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A start-up company has designed a unique way of helping office workers stay in shape and help the environment while sitting at their desks.
The BigRig bicycle desk, which uses kinetic energy from peddling, can be used to power computers and gadgets but can even be put to more domestic tasks such as churning butter.
The company behind the novel invention is called Pedal Power, which was started by two New York-based friends Steve Blood and Andy Wekin. The pair build each BigRig by hand which is why each model costs $2,400 (BD905).
“Human power goes beyond electricity and the primary reason why pedal power is so useful is because two legs can generate eight times more power than one arm with considerably more endurance,” they said.
During the last five years the pair have designed two different machines - the BigRig and the Pedal Genny, which is a smaller version.
The Big Rig, a multifunction machine with a built-in seat and work surface, can power nearly anything that uses a v-belt pulley (or chain) and requires less than 1 horsepower.
An average adult can use it to generate 100 watts of electricity or pump five gallons of water a minute as well as to grind a variety of grains, operate an air compressor, a hydraulic pump and a variety of small electrical tools.
Meanwhile, the Pedal Genny, can be used to generate electricity or for other mechanical uses.
The Pedal Genny was developed as a more portable, single function machine. It has an optional seat, but no work surface. It features a flywheel to smooth pedaling, full-size cranks, and an all-steel, hand-built frame. It has been used for generating electricity, milling grain and pumping water, but can be configured to power most any mechanical device requiring less than 1 horsepower.
“Our hope is that someday our machines will be as economical and widespread as the bicycle,” said Mr Blood, who is involved in fundraising $10,000 so that the company can produce kits including step-by-step instructions so that people can build their own desks.
The pair said that bicycle technology is ‘nearly perfect’ with 97 per cent efficiency and should be utilised more in everyday tasks.
“Using your own power rather than plugging into the grid is not only fun, but also helps you understand your energy use and reduce your ecological footprint,” they said.
“One day, we hope to see every household charging phones, processing food, and pumping water with pedal power,” said Mr Blood and Mr Welkin.
It can take up to four months to build a BigRig and although they are hand-built, the engineers use computer aided design technology to ensure a machine fits a customer’s requirements.
