The plant that can charge your mobile phone

If you ever wanted a reason to plant more greenery around the house, this could be it.

A plant that can literally charge your mobile phone is taking green energy to a whole new level.

It’s called the Bioo and the team behind the innovation, Barcelona-based Arkyne Technologies, says the pot produces electricity in a roundabout way from the plant’s photosynthesis, which gives you a green alternative to solar chargers used to power your gadgets.

Unlike solar charges, of which there are dozens on the market today, the Bioo provides renewable power day and night. Solar chargers fail when the sun is not shining.

The pot features a charging port that’s disguised as a rock (cute!), a battery to store the electricity being generated you’d have to assume, and many other features.

The developers say the Bioo pot can provide enough charge to bring the battery of a smartphone from 0 to 100 three times per day or night. It’s equipped with a 5-volt 1A USB charging port and the source of the power is the biological battery located in the base of the pot.

All you need to do is water the plant regularly and keep it growing for a period of around five years. That sounds like a hell of a commitment, but in return your plant will provide sufficient energy to charge your smartphone and in turn could save you a small chunk on the electricity bill.

What do you think of this idea?