Project Designing a compact charger for mobile phones
Client Idea Forge

Background
India has 250 million cell phone subscribers and the number is growing. In India, cellular service is available at places that do not even have the landlines yet. Cell phone acts as the primary source of communication for business, entertainment and emergency services across India.

IdeaForge, a startup enterprise approached Elephant with the basic technology to design a mechanical charger.

Challenge
To design an easy to use, cost effective, mass produced product that would be operated by applying minimal efforts to charge a mobile phone.

Design Research
Design team mapped various cell phone user groups and researched their ergonomic requirements & behavioral patterns. One major insight was to design the charger that could be used with a single hand and would be used even while the user is talking.

Design Solution
Single hand usage was achieved by introducing a rolling mechanism in the form of a large wheel, which is rimmed with a thermo-plastic elastomeric grip to create a friction wheel and can be operated on any surface available nearby. Clean concave and symmetrical form was given to enable a firm grip. Symmetrical form was designed to enable a comfortable and intuitive grip for both right and left hand operation. Body of the charger was designed with minimum number parts for easy assembly. Adapters for different brands of cell phones were offered with the basic product for flexibility of use.

Result
Recently launched, the numbers are yet to be tabulated; this product is estimated to enable a hundred million people that need to charge their handsets on the go.

The product is available at www.indiatimes.com, www.gadgets.in, www.homeshop18.com as well as through retail chains like “E-zone” and “Next” electronics

Awards
Plasticon Award 2009 in 'Innovative Product Award' category
Finalist at the Internationa Spark Awards (USA) 2009.
Finalist at the Global Green Gadgets Awards (USA) 2010 

Featured in  

GO Charger movie