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I think the product may not be without merit (edit: entirely), even though the marketing reminds me of free-energy pseudoscience. Within a region with many isla
by wnkrshm 12y ago
I think the product may not be without merit (edit: entirely), even though the marketing reminds me of free-energy pseudoscience. Within a region with many islands, where technology is expensive because it has to be transported by sea (with weight and space limitations increasing the cost), it may be much more cost effective if you have batteries without needing to ship an electrolyte. You can just cram more replacement anodes in a cargo hold than fully-fledged throw-away batteries.
On the other hand - solar panels might be a better investment.
- pge 12y agoI agree, and I think the focus here on the battery is misplaced. What is enabling this to work is the availability of low cost LEDs, which require very little current to operate. These open the door of all kinds of lighting with low power sources, like galvanic batteries, or as you suggest solar panels (though I am guessing the cost for solar is higher). Whether this is the optimal power source is TBD, but the core idea that lighting can be brought to developing countries at very low cost by looking at non-traditional power sources is an important one.