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How to build a DIY home bike generator

With fuel prices rocketing up in price, it’s no wonder that many of us are looking for alternatives. Waiting times for a new EV range between six and eighteen months, and there are even reports of price gazumping on certain models. So it’s great news to read that Low Tech Magazine has an article on building your own DIY home bike generator. Now the article is a weeny bit tongue in cheek, but there’s no question that this sort of thing may develop hugely as we transition to a fossil free world.

The kit uses an ancient exercise bike with a nice big flywheel, along with a rather intimidating hand crafted control panel which looks like it should be in the Tardis (look it up, kids). For all the fun taking, it actually works at the end of the day. And as the authors say, it may not be enough, but it’s certainly something to think about alongside a solar panel array on your roof.

The whole kit came to around €450, and they managed to get it to power up an impressive amount of household gear (mostly 12V of course). A fridge, kettle, power tools, stereo system, sewing machine and a dot matrix printer were a few of the things which they happily got working. And of course lighting. The article has full details on how to build this little marvel, and who knows, if enough people jump on the idea it could become as popular as 3D printing in time.

 

PS The comments are fun too! And this reminds me of our original fascination with the bicimáquina of Maya Pedal in South America which we featured ages ago. Lovely.

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