Capturing energy from moving axles as the hand cart is pushed along, kinetic energy is amplified through a series of gears and then converted into electric energy to be stored in a battery pack. A second battery pack actually powers the hand cart, and when depleted, is swapped out with the pack that has been charging at the same time. The depleted battery pack is then charged by movement, starting the cycle all over.
Hand carts are a typical feature of informal Kenyan commerce, with thousands of vendors using them as shops and transport between major markets and supply points. Hospitals use hand carts to move medicine and food, and airports run diesel-powered carts to transport luggage between planes and luggage holds.
Guantai believes that the regenerative motion recharging system, which can power a cart for hours, will have a major impact on the productivity of vendors and workers, taking a large portion of physical exertion out of their tasks.
