The Fontus self-filling water bottle for bicycles may still be steps away from actual production or from hitting Amazon and your nearby supply store but it is already gaining traction and buzz. The concept was reported in an earlier HNGN story and it has since generated attention. Reports show, for instance, that a price range is already identified, with the device expected to fetch from $25 to $40, according to Tree Hugger.
The novelty of Fontus is its capability to generate water out of thin air. Using solar power, the device draws air into the bottle as the bicycle moves, which is then slowed and cooled to form water. This is made possible through the device's cooling chambers that facilitate condensation. The device can collect as much as 0.5 liters within an hour of biking, according to the Huffington Post. It also works best in areas with higher humidity and when the temperature reaches 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fontus is designed by Kristof Retezar, an industrial design student in Vienna. Aside from being handy when biking, Retezar was inspired by the idea of harvesting water from the air to help billions of people living in regions with water scarcity, states the James Dyson Foundation, where Fontus was selected as a finalist for his gadget.
Currently, Fontus will not work in urban areas where the air is contaminated. The prototype does not have the filtration system capable of purifying the dirty air into clean condensed water.
