MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name

Exercise Equipment Electric Vehicle Charging

One-line solution summary.

Using Kinetic energy from gym equipment to charge electric vehicles.

What is your solution?

While using a gym bike the movement of the pedals will use kinetic energy to turn a generator and create electricity to power an electric vehicle charging point. This means that a person can get rewarded for personal exercise by charging their own electric vehicle.

What specific problem are you trying to solve?

Personal charging is not an option for many people in the UK because most houses do not have access to a personal parking spot, driveway or garage. There are also a lack of public charging points outside of cities and larger towns. There are only 21 public charging points in Clackmannanshire for a population of 51,400 (2018 census). The reason there is reluctance to install public electric charging points is due to the company installing the charging points having to pay for the electricity required to charge the vehicles.

Who does your solution serve? In what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The solution will serve the general population but more specifically gym users and which will encourage them to purchase electric vehicles and this will also increase government investment due to the larger number of electric vehicles on the road. This solution also will serve electric vehicle owners whom are currently underserved; they do not have easy access to charging points if they live in more rural areas. This solution addresses the needs of both target populations by providing electric charging points which can charge electric vehicles through physical exercise.

What steps have you taken to understand the needs of the population you want to serve?

We have done research with potential users and found that a common problem with potential electric vehicle owners is that they will not buy electric cars until there are more public charging points available.

Which aspects of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Taking action to combat climate change and its impacts (Sustainability)

Our solution's stage of development:

Concept: An idea being explored for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model based on that idea

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution—in other words, what have you accomplished to date?

We currently do not possess the resources required to take this further than the concept stage.

Where our solution team is headquartered or located:

Alva, Clackmannanshire, UK

Team Lead:

Maciej Rybicki