• Men’s Journal, December Issue, “Gear of the Year”

• The San Francisco Chronicle

• BBC

• WIRED Magazine

• ABC News Online

• 60 Minutes

• Forbes.com

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Our travels took us to Khulna, Mongla and Dhaka where we tested prototypes with the locals and got feedback on how they could use the PCG in their lives.  As expected, there is a huge need for clean, renewable lighting.  Kerosene lamps and open flames were abundant as light sources.  The soot byproduct from these lamps permeated all areas of the houses that used them.

The input we got from villagers was very positive and encouraging.  Most were pleasantly surprised by the amount of pulling required to create usable light.

With the communications infrastructure as it is, a great number of Bengladeshis have mobile phones.  The mobile coverage throughout most of the country is fantastic.  The average villager that owns a cell phone charges it from a 12 volt car battery, another task that the PCG is very well suited for.

Overall our trip was a great success and we have gained more insight into the power needs of rural unelectrified areas.  The Bengladeshi people we met with were wonderfully helpful and eager to see our product made available.  We intend to take what we have learned from Bangladesh and incorporate it into our development process to make Potenco’s products as useful, powerful and organic as possible to fit the end users’ needs.

In the wake of One Laptop Per Child’s recently launched “Give One, Get One” program, some of you have wondered about the availability of our pull-cord generator (PCG). We are just as excited as you about OLPC’s initiative, and have been working hard to bring our reliable, renewable energy solution to those who lack access to electricity.  Currently, we are putting the finishing touches on the PCG’s design and getting it production ready.  You can keep tabs of our development by checking out our blog and signing up for our newsletter.  As soon as the PCG is ready to roll, we’ll let you know! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at info at potenco.com.

Potenco hit the ground running - or more accurately, pulling – at the 2007 WIRED NextFest in September.  The annual event, held this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center, features some of the world’s most exciting and innovative advances in technology.  And while there were plenty of break-dancing robots and head-scratching gizmos at NextFest, we were most excited about the many innovations in green technology.

Potenco was lucky enough to be among those featured in the Future of Green Pavilion, where we had the opportunity to show off our pull-cord generator (PCG).  Rather than simply telling people about the PCG, we wanted visitors to create power on the spot.  So we hooked up four generators and put folks to work.  From pint-sized school-children to muscle-bound adults, everyone was able to generate lasting, clean energy using the PCG.  Who knew creating power could be so much fun?  Over the course of the event, visitors blasted out a total of 210,788.8 Joules using only their own two hands and our yo-yo generator.  That’s enough to power 14,638 songs on an iPod Shuffle, five and half days of talk time on a cell phone, or more than a week straight of LED light.  And if we spent less time yapping with visitors and more time letting them pull the PCG, we could have produced even more energy. People seemed to love the PCG’s ergonomic design, durable casing, and massive power output.  But more importantly, people were giving us great ideas on what else we could power.  In fact, we were so blown away by their ideas that we want to keep it coming.  So… what would you power with the PCG?  Let us know at info@potenco.com. In the end, NextFest proved to be an exhilarating (albeit exhausting) chance for us to get in front of you, create some genuine People Power, and discuss the dynamic ways that you can power your world.  If you missed the event and want to learn more, be sure to sign up for our newsletter at www.potenco.com/contact-us. 

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS – Potenco Inc. was selected as a featured exhibitor for this year’s WIRED NextFestTM, sponsored by WIRED Magazine. Billed as a new vision of the World’s Fair, WIRED NextFest features more than 160 of the world’s most innovative products and technologies. Potenco showcased its portable renewable energy generator as part of the WIRED NextFest’s “Future of Green” pavilion.

The Potenco pull-cord generator (PCG) currently serves as a power source for the One Laptop Per Child Foundation’s XO Laptop, but CEO and founder Colin Bulthaup has a larger goal in mind. “We see the PCG as a complete green energy solution for a broad range of portable electronics,” said Bulthaup, “From cell phones to lights to health care technologies, the PCG will play a critical role in delivering clean, sustainable energy to off-grid situations worldwide.”While Potenco’s sights are initially set on solving energy challenges in developing countries, WIRED NextFest provided a unique opportunity to introduce the product to the U.S. market as well.At this year’s WIRED Nextfest, Potenco gave the public its first hands-on opportunity to test and interact with the PCG. In addition to trying out some of Potenco’s newest hardware, visitors could see their power output instantly on display screens. Said Bulthaup, “We want people to see first-hand the revolutionary potential of human-based power.”WIRED Nextfest ran from September 14-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

• What does PCG stand for?
• What is Potenco’s PCG and what does it do?
• Does the PCG require electrical power?
• How does the PCG compare with similar or related technologies? What are new features or capabilities unique to the PCG?
• Does the PCG require specialized training?
• Where can I buy a PCG?
• Why a pull-cord?
• Will I get tired pulling the cord?
• If Potenco’s PCG isn’t available in the U.S., where is it available?
• I really want to get my hands on a PCG. Is there any way to learn more?

What does PCG stand for?
Pull-cord generator.

What is Potenco’s PCG and what does it do?
Potenco’s PCG keeps portable electronic devices working all the time while providing freedom and independence from traditional power sources. Simply hold the PCG in the palm of one hand, pull the cord with the other hand, and generate usable energy that is stored in internal batteries for use when needed. The PCG safely charges portable batteries and provides power for a variety of critical electronics like lighting, cell phones, radios, GPS, PDAs, and water purifiers.

Does the PCG require electrical power?
The PCG is a lightweight, hand-held electrical power source that extracts mechanical energy from human motion and converts it into electrical energy that can then be used to recharge batteries and power small electronic devices.

How does the PCG compare with similar or related technologies? What are new features or capabilities unique to the PCG?

The PCG’s quiet, compact and efficient design delivers significant performance improvements over alternative portable, human-powered devices that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Generally speaking, other portable human-powered generators produce considerably less energy than the PCG, tire out users faster, have a shorter lifetime, and are noisier.

Does the PCG require specialized training?
The PCG does not require any specialized training. The interface is simple and requires minimal instruction.

Where can I buy a PCG?
The PCG is not yet commercially available, as we are currently primarily focused on ramping up our efforts with the One Laptop Per Child’s initiative. However, we are committed to eventually delivering our product to a wide range of customers, including through individual retail sale. For more information about product availability, please join our mailing list at http://potenco.com/contact.html.

Why a pull-cord?
The pull-cord is designed to give users maximum flexibility and range of motion. Unlike a hand crank, which primarily uses weak wrist muscles, the PCG employs a variety of muscle groups to generate considerably more power, while minimizing user fatigue.

Will I get tired pulling the cord?
Potenco has created an intelligent loading interface that adjusts to the strength of the user. So there’s never any unnecessary strain while pulling the cord, allowing for an easy, fluid motion that lets you generate energy for much longer than other human-powered generators.

If Potenco’s PCG isn’t available in the U.S., where is it available?

Initially, our generator will primarily be available to power the millions of laptops about to be distributed by One Laptop Per Child. Soon, we will have a wide range of applications available for both the developing and developed worlds.

I really want to get my hands on a PCG. Is there any way to learn more?
To join our mailing list, please visit http://potenco.com/contact.html. We’ll give you the inside details on new designs, availability, and much more.