The problem with most technology is that it needs to be charged. We haven’t jumped to DI2 because, well, we don’t need another bit of kit that needs to be plugged in to an outlet before we can ride. We forget to charge stuff all the time and even our friends who claim their electronic shifting systems rarely need to be charged have stumbled home locked in one gear more often than they like to admit.
POC, the Swedish helmet manufacturer has partnered with Exeger, another Swedish company to create a helmet with a light on the back that is charged by solar panels on the helmet. Yes, it’s lot of tech for a blinky light on the back, but the concept is more interesting than just a helmet. It’s a piece of technology that requires electricity, yet, never needs to be plugged in and that is pretty cool. Here’s how POC spins it.
POC is proud to introduce the Omne Eternal, the world’s first self-powered cycling helmet which integrates Powerfoyle, an innovative light-harvesting material, which can convert any light source, indoor or outdoor, into electrical power. . . To enhance a rider’s safety on the road, the Omne Eternal features an automatic and self-powered light, which never needs charging with a cable or activation from an on or off switch. Safety and light from clean, endless energy.
If having a light on your helmet that you don’t need to charge EVER is something you find interesting, the please, follow the jump for all the official details.
POC is proud to introduce the Omne Eternal, the world’s first self-powered cycling helmet which integrates Powerfoyle, an innovative light-harvesting material, which can convert any light source, indoor or outdoor, into electrical power.
To enhance a rider’s safety on the road, the Omne Eternal features an automatic and self-powered light, which never needs charging with a cable or activation from an on or off switch. Safety and light from clean, endless energy.
Commenting on the release of the Omne Eternal, POC CEO, Jonas Sjögren, said – “Safety and innovation are at the very center of POC’s approach. We can all see the very positive shift towards cycling for transport, health and recreation, but with that change comes the well-documented safety worries and risks that cyclists feel when sharing the road. The Omne Eternal may be a world’s first, featuring groundbreaking solar cell technology, but our focus has been to provide riders with enhanced safety and a seamless user experience. Simply placing the helmet on the head will automatically activate the technology, enhancing safety without ever needing to think about it. And it supports all our efforts towards a more sustainable environment.”
The user’s experience is designed to be seamless, but as is often the case, the technology behind such innovations is highly complex. POC and Exeger, the innovator and manufacturer of Powerfoyle, have been working closely since 2019 to build and test a variety of systems that have resulted in the Omne Eternal, which to most users will look much the same as any other helmet.
Exeger CEO, Giovanni Fili, added, “POC is known for its open-minded and innovative approach to safety and is rightly recognized as the leader in the field. Exeger has over the past decade developed the new generation of fully customizable, durable and sustainable solar cells, creating what others deemed impossible – an innovation with the potential to deliver clean endless energy and to re-define the energy from light. Our long-term partnership with POC is as natural as the light we harvest and we are incredibly excited to be part of the release of the Omne Eternal, which represents a new era of smart helmets to enhance safety for any rider, anywhere in the world.
The unique characteristics of Powerfoyle, is that it allows for seamless integration without compromising design and aesthetics. Powerfoyle harnesses all types of light energy, converting it to electrical energy in an environmentally friendly way.
POC CEO, Jonas Sjögren, continued – “Our ‘Whole helmet concept™’ illustrates that in today’s world a helmet can, and should, do significantly more than manage impacts. By integrating digital solutions we can protect a user before, during and after an accident. Integrating Powerfoyle opens a world of new opportunities, creating helmets with an endless power source is the key to unlocking new ideas and innovations which have the potential to revolutionize safety.”
About POC
POC, a leading manufacturer of helmets, eyewear, body armor and apparel, has been awarded more than 70 international safety, design, and innovation awards. Founded in 2005 in Sweden, POC’s mission is to ‘protect lives and reduce the consequences of accidents for athletes and anyone inspired to be one’. www.pocsports.com
About Exeger
Exeger is a Swedish company with a unique solar cell technology, that converts any form of light into electrical power. With its resilient, flexible and seamless design, the material (Powerfoyle) can be integrated into all products that benefit from being self-powered. Exeger brings endless energy to products through partnerships with leading companies on a global scale. By revolutionizing the perception of available energy, Exeger makes products both smarter and more sustainable – with the vision to improve everyday lives of a billion people. www.exeger.com
About the collaboration
POC and Exeger presented the technology and idea to develop, design and manufacture a self-powered helmet at the Rouleur Classic in London (31 Oct to 2 Nov, 2019).
