Pavegen, a British tech startup, is making waves with its innovative "smart tiles" that convert the energy from footsteps into usable electricity. Founded by designer Lawrence Kenbol Cook, the company has turned an imaginative concept into a real-world solution. These floor tiles, embedded with electromagnetic generators, capture kinetic energy as people walk across them, and use it to power nearby lights or other small devices.
Lawrence, who is in his 30s, has been leading Pavegen for over six years. He shared with the Global Times how his idea was inspired by the bustling crowds at London’s Victoria Station. As he watched people move through the station, he wondered: why not harness the energy generated by their movement? That spark of inspiration led him down a path of innovation and technology development.
The company has tested its technology in high-traffic areas like King’s Cross Station, one of the busiest in London. However, in less populated areas, the impact is limited. A single step generates only about 3 joules of energy—enough to power a low-energy LED light for around 30 seconds. In some cases, like in Washington, D.C., where foot traffic was insufficient, the project faced challenges, costing $100,000 without yielding significant returns.
Despite these challenges, Lawrence believes that the future of smart floor tiles isn’t limited to big cities. The company is also working on energy harvesting solutions for low-power devices, which could make the technology useful even in less crowded places. Additionally, the data collected from pedestrians—like footstep patterns and Bluetooth connections—offers valuable insights for businesses looking to understand customer behavior.
So far, Pavegen has focused on markets in Europe and the U.S., but Lawrence is particularly excited about the potential in China. With Beijing’s subway system handling over 10 million passengers daily, he sees a huge opportunity. He hopes to collaborate with Chinese partners to bring the technology to more cities. Looking ahead, he predicts that in the next five to seven years, the cost of installation will drop, and the efficiency of the tiles will improve, making them a more viable option worldwide.
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