Prolific Japanese design studio Nendo has released a hand-generated portable charger to power-up your phone in a black-out situation.
Founder Oki Sato has long looked to the many natural disasters in his native Japan to inspire his problem-solving design. For the Denqul charger, Nendo has again partnered with hardware company Sugita Ace; after the success of two prior collaborations themed around disaster relief, including a portable toilet, and an emergency kit filled with supplies.
Now, Nendo and Sugita Ace have turned their attention to the troublesome thought of loosing power on your mobile phone, when faced with no electricity, and no access to emergency services. The designers considered solar panels, before deciding upon using hand-generated centrifugal force to produce electricity.
The Denqul stick pulls out to double its size and bends into an L shape, which can be easily swung and rotated. A lithium battery is positioned on the tip to maximise the centrifugal force, utilising the weight of the battery (often thought of as a disadvantage in hand-held chargers) as leverage.
Of course, the device – which also plugs into the mains – can be used for everyday charging, too. As such, Denqul is imbued with Nendo’s signature minimalist aesthetic. It’s available in three muted, matte colour finishes, and comes with a charging dock-cum desk tidy, handy for standing your phone and cables in. §
