Recharger Device on a Bike

In the 1930s, cyclists said “Let there be light (while I pedal at night)” and hub manufacturer Sturmey-Archer gave it to them. The company’s Dynohub contained its own mini generator to power bike headlamps.

Now, many decades later, Dahon — via its signature line of components, BioLogic — has found a way to harness that same user-generated electricity to power iPhones, iPods, GPS units, or just about any small electronic device.

The to-be-released BioLogic ReeCharge device works on bikes with a dynamo hub on the front wheel. Dynamo hubs, made by companies like Shimano and SRAM, sell for as low as $40 and include a small electrical generator built into the hub to make power.

With the BioLogic ReeCharge device, just ride and the power is captured in a lithium polymer battery. A charge is then delivered to a device at a level amount of electricity — no ups and downs from stopping and starting — so it won’t trash the battery of whatever you’re trying to charge.

The ride time it takes to charge an iPhone? About 2.5 hours.

“A lot of us here at Dahon use iPhones and there are some pretty neat GPS and cycling computer applications available,” says Joshua Hon of Dahon. “But the problem is battery life — 90 minutes into the ride and your phone is out of batteries.”

Hon said with this device he can ride and never run out of power. “So there were definitely selfish intentions when we began to develop this product,” he continued. “And the best part is that we’re keeping our phones charged with power that we’re generating.”

The BioLogic ReeCharge sounds like a perfect solution for GPS users and riders who like to stream Pandora on long rides. The BioLogic ReeCharge will come pre-installed on two Dahon bikes in 2010, the Ios XL and the Speed TR.

It will also be available as an aftermarket accessory in March 2010 at a suggested retail price of $99. www.dahon.com

—Stephen Krcmar