A company in London, UK, will establish vending stations throughout the city for portable battery banks, with which users can charge smartphones.
ChargedUp is applying a similar model to those used by companies offering bike-sharing schemes in cities around the world. Users can collect a portable battery bank from a vending station for a small fee, use it to charge their phone for as long as it is needed, and then return it to the nearest station. The portable battery banks address the ongoing challenge of charging a smart phone on the go.
The company’s vending stations have already launched in more than 30 locations in London, and aim to be available in more than 1,000 venues in the city by the end of the year, including in cafés, restaurants, bars, shops and other convenient locations. ChargedUp is working closely alongside retail partners like Wetherspoons and Pret-A-Manger, and Transport for London, to expand the scheme even further.
What are the benefits of using the system?
The battery packs hold enough energy to charge a standard phone twice over, and are fitted with standard adaptors for both iPhone and Android devices, making them a low-cost and convenient manner of charging. Users can locate their nearest vending station using the ChargedUp app.
Further, the network runs on 100% renewable energy, thanks to a partnership with Ecotricity, a Gloucestershire-based green energy company. According to ChargedUp founder and CEO Hugo Tilmouth, the solution is one of the most cost effective and convenient way to address the inconvenience of a smartphone running out of battery.
He said: “Battery life has not managed to keep up with the demands we put on our smartphones, and running low part-way through the day is now a common, and very frustrating, occurrence… [That’s] why we developed ChargedUp as an easy, cost-effective way to charge your phone on the go. From as little as £0.50, you’ll always be fully charged.”
