In a remarkable twist of fate, British engineer Chris Doel turned 500 discarded vape pens into a power source for his home. Disillusioned by the thought of these vapes—marketed as single-use—he ventured to recover their lithium-ion batteries. After collecting abandoned vapes from friends and local shops, he built an impressive battery bank with enough capacity to run his household for eight hours. Talk about a sustainable upgrade!
Doel’s journey began when he noticed how often friends tossed empty vapes into the trash without realizing their potential. Armed with determination and a spark of innovation, he meticulously extracted the batteries and wired them together. With a YouTube channel dedicated to his DIY projects, the world has now been treated to a fascinating insight into how e-waste can be transformed into an energy solution.
Not only did he prove that recycling can lead to remarkable inventions, but he also highlighted the absurdity of calling these batteries “disposable.” After some hands-on work, Doel’s creation powered everything from his microwave to his lighting system—off-grid, no less! As he aspires to convert this massive battery pack to solar power, one can’t help but marvel at how waste can truly be reimagined into something useful. What other treasures might we find hiding in plain sight?
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Andrew Johnson
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