Micah Jemimah Calahat

There is power in pedaling — literally, as the normal biking Filipinos know becomes more than just a simple exercise — it’s already capable of generating electricity for your devices.

Developers from AnimoLabs Fab Lab and Sustainability Hub of De La Salle Laguna Campus transform fitness to a fuel for the future of energy conservation through enhancing a power-generating bicycle called Power Bike.


Fitness meets function

At first glance, the Power Bike may seem like your typical bike — but it functions with a twist. 

“‘Yong theory niya basically ‘pag nagpe-pedal ang isang tao, nag-a-output siya ng energy o power,” said Isidro Marfori III, one of the innovators of the prototype. 

When a person pedals, they generate mechanical energy caused by energy from motion and position. The energy generated does not just move wheels like the normal cycling process - it’s passed through the dynamo attached at the back of the bike seat and is converted into electrical energy.

According to Marfori, the dynamo acts as a generator that produces an electrical output able to power small devices like LED lights, or even a mobile phone plugged in a USB port. 

Moreover, a voltage and current meter installed allows to measure and monitor the amount of power generated by the bike.

“Typically pag nagpe-pedal tayo, depende sa tao, but more or less… nakakagenerate tayo ng roughly mga 100 watts,” the developer explained.

This amount of power generated is enough to charge a phone which only needs around 20 watts, and LEDs which are energy efficient — a little electricity would go a long way. 

However, despite the added technology, the experience remains familiar. There is no difference with how it is being used, making the design intuitive and practical.

One cycle at a time

The Philippines is considered to be a climate-vulnerable country experiencing some of its worst case scenarios from extreme typhoons to contributing greenhouse gas emissions. 

Significantly, air pollution challenges are being observed due to heavy reliance on coal as a source of energy for most of Filipinos daily activities  and usage.

In current times where a global push for sustainable efforts is taken into account, the Power Bike innovation acts more than just a mere invention, rather, it is a mile closer to attaining a greener environment.

“Small actions, when multiplied, lead to meaningful change,” said Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR). 

The innovators say the bike can generate not less than 12 volts — small, but enough to somehow power small devices. The prototype is set to be enhanced and polished further for future public use.

A win is still a win — despite having only small devices reduced from normal energy consumption, it is still a step towards sustainability.

Indeed, we can say, there is power in pedaling – not just in movement, but in its vision. It’s the simplest actions, like riding a bike, that we can find major changes — one charge, one cycle at a time.