An ingenious young graduate has ingeniously harnessed the power of 80 discarded vape batteries to fuel his electric scooter, all in an effort to raise awareness about wasteful practices. This 23-year-old British innovator argues that disposable vape devices are often perceived as disposable by design, but they still possess substantial untapped energy potential, and it’s crucial for the public to recognize this fact.
With zero financial expenditure, Tobiasz Stanford, hailing from Wiltshire, embarked on a mission to collect and repurpose 80 discarded vape batteries. He skillfully wired these lithium-ion batteries to a secondhand electric scooter, which he had acquired for a mere $37 (£30) through an eBay purchase. This ingenious merging of discarded batteries and a budget-friendly e-scooter gave rise to a powerful and eco-conscious mode of transportation.
Tobiasz Stanford now proudly relies on his unconventional creation as his daily means of commuting, and he lauds its remarkable reliability. In doing so, he not only showcases the underutilized potential of seemingly disposable technology but also underscores the importance of resourcefulness and sustainability in our modern world. His remarkable initiative serves as a testament to the ingenuity that can be unlocked when we challenge the status quo and strive for more responsible and innovative solutions to everyday challenges.
“It can go up any hill, has been used in rain, and has been driven through puddles. The only downfall is that it’s quite noisy but other than that the performance is crazy. These vape batteries are very active still, yet they’re marketed as disposable. It needs to stop”
With a lifelong passion for electronics and mechanical components, the graduate student observed his friend using a vape and became intrigued by its inner workings. This curiosity prompted him to delve into various types of vapes, some of which could be recharged and reused up to five times before depleting their vape liquid. Through meticulous disassembly, he uncovered that these vapes employed rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Eager to explore the potential of these batteries, he began recharging them and noticed that after a single cycle, they regained their performance, functioning nearly as effectively as brand-new batteries. This revelation sparked his ambition to experiment with using them to power a scooter.
Upon purchasing one on eBay, he was disappointed to find that it had limited range and could only reach a maximum speed of 10 mph (16 km/h).
“I had to be careful wiring up the batteries but now the scooter works better with the vape batteries than it did before. It goes up to 15 mph (25km), can go up any hill, and can charge in about three hours,” he said.
“Once it’s fully charged I go around six miles every day on it.”
Tobiasz astounds people when he reveals that the tiny scooter runs solely on disposable vape batteries.
“Everyone’s quite surprised. My family and friends are completely shocked when they see what I’ve done. It’s a very small scooter and most people can’t even tell it’s even powered – never mind powered by vapes.”
Tobiasz asserts the importance of spreading awareness about the potential for reusing disposable vapes and advocates for stricter regulations governing their reuse. This is especially crucial, as the improper disposal of these vapes in landfills could lead to the eventual release of harmful chemicals.
“We need to think about ‘ewaste’ with greater importance. These batteries are very active still.”
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