London-based Intelligent Energy, a power technology company has launched Upp – a personal charger for portable devices with USB ports such as smartphones, feature phones, eReaders, tablets, portable gaming consoles, as well as digital cameras.
Launched at the AfricaCom in Cape Town last week, Upp delivers at least one week of charge even to the most demanding, power-hungry smartphones. The device uses innovative fuel cell technology and has the ability to charge and power devices just like electricity.
According to Henri Winand, CEO of Intelligent Energy, “Upp represents a new category of energy device, and are excited about the transformational implications for the portable electronics market and the consumer. With the growing demand for portable devices, mobile and cloud services, consumers want the energy independence to keep their devices connected and powered-up all the time.”
Set to be available in shops in December this year in South Africa and Nigeria, the $200 worth Upp provides instant energy on-the-go. Its Intelligent Auto Shutoff feature conserves energy and protects battery life of the electronic device it is charging. It also comes with a free iOS and Android app for predictive usage statistics as well as user management.
Upp works simply, the Upp fuel cell takes hydrogen provided by the Upp fuel cartridge and combines it with air to produce clean electricity with water vapour as a by-product. Users simply need to connect the fuel cell to a replaceable fuel cartridge to experience instant energy for their devices. In addition to the fuel cartridge being replaceable, Intelligent Energy has adopted a socially responsible approach to fuel replenishment, by enabling the reuse of each cartridge multiple times.
Amar Samra, Managing Director of Consumer Electronics, Intelligent Energy said: ““Batteries need help: their capabilities haven’t kept pace with innovation in smart connected portable devices. Given that 75 percent of the global population relies on the mobile phone to stay connected, the more you want to do with your device, the more energy you need. Consumers need a reliable source of personal and portable energy, and Upp gives you that critical uptime when you really need it.”