With the launch of the Verde treadmill, sustainable fitness equipment-maker SportsArt is at the forefront of producing electricity as a byproduct of human exercise.
SportsArt debuted the market-ready Verde G690, which the brand calls the “world’s first energy-producing treadmill,” at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week.
The commercial cardio machine is the latest invention in SportsArt’s ECO-POWR line, which includes indoor, upright, and recumbent cycling equipment as well as elliptical and cross-training machines. All use an electromagnetic and mechanical braking system to generate electricity during a workout.
SportsArt is the first to harness human power, such as walking, jogging, or running, on a treadmill and send it back to the grid. One eco treadmill uses a USB port to power a small device like a smartphone. But the Verde is the first to generate up to 200 watt-hours of “utility-grade” electricity.
From Your Legs to the Grid
The Verde G690 non-motorized treadmill uses a low-friction belt with slow incline and smart braking to start and stop. The user’s body weight propels the belt, which triggers the flywheel to spin, generating energy. But replacing a traditional motor’s spot with a patented micro-inverter is where this technology takes a big green leap.