New Upcycle Tech Gives Dead Phone Batteries a Second Lease on Life
The BETTER RE power pack taps old and discarded batteries for remaining charges.
BETTER RE is a power pack able to tap old and discarded batteries for remaining charges.
The sad thing about “smart” phones is that they very quickly lose their luster, usually just a few short years after purchase. Apps become incompatible, download times take longer and longer, and, the most popular complaint, batteries often don’t stay charged. But what if, instead of chucking your phone or its battery, you could use it down to very last drop? BETTER RE, a new kickstarter project, promises to extract the last amperes of energy as a “short term backup power pack solution.” At 67.65mm (2.66 inch) by 128.5mm (5.05 inch), this tiny device is slim, portable, and based on a simple, single platform—compatible with a variety of different smartphone batteries, both big (2,800 mAh) and small (1,810 mAh).
The devices themselves are sleek in appearance, and outfitted with PMC protection, circuitry safeguards to prevent over- charging and discharging, and come in a clear LED indication system that informs users if there’s any juice left in their old battery. The genius powering this device is, of course, magnets. Integrated into the system, they hold multiple modules securely and tightly for a more expandable power capacity. According to its makers, this smart-charger and reuse system is green through-and-through, and manufactured with eco-friendly materials like recycled aluminum and FSC-certified walnut and maple wood pieces. ‘Better Re’ comes in 4 different colors to get you jazzed about conserving energy resources.
Below, check out a quick video on how BATTERY RE works: