Tag: power bank

Though many people plug their mobile devices into their cars, they may be burning more gas than they know.

Many people have shrugged off the need for a portable charger due to the fact that they have an adaptor or a USB port that allows them to simply plug their devices into their vehicles so they can charge them up during their daily commutes and any other trips they need to make.

However, that technique may be more costly and may have a far greater impact on the environment than expected.

It has recently been pointed out in a number of reports that driving while talking on a cell phone isn’t the only harmful thing that these devices can do when they are used in vehicles. Even when the driver isn’t actively using them, if a smartphone is plugged into a car and is charging, instead of using a portable charger, it actually reduces the mileage of the vehicle in a measurable way. How much? According to a retired General Motors Co. engineering exec who studies power usage in vehicles, Jon Bereisa, people charging their smartphones in their cars are slashing their fuel efficiency by 0.03 miles per gallon of gasoline.

A portable charger is now seen as the best tool to avoid this harm to the environment and a driver’s wallet.

When considering the number of vehicles and smartphones across the United States, Bereisa’s calculations show that charging using a car instead of an external battery pack could actually send an additional 970,000 tons of global warming-boosting carbon dioxide into the air.

That said, according to Delphi Automotive Plc vice president of engineering and program management, Mary Gustanski, “Do I think we’re at peak USB? No.” She added that “We’ll get more and more creative to not only allow you to connect with USB but also to connect wireless. Consumers want their car to be just like their home.”

While mobile technology may be evolving so that it will one day offer a solution that won’t have nearly as much of a negative impact on fuel consumption, until that day has come, a portable that fits easily in a pocket, handbag or glove compartment might be the ideal solution for fuel economy-conscious drivers who care about the environment and who are hoping to spend as little as possible at the pumps.

Regardless of where you’re traveling, why, or with whom, your smartphone will be going with you.

Because mobile devices like smartphones and tablets go with us, no matter what, there are some very important travel hacks, including finding the most powerful portable charger, that can make all the difference to your convenience or frustration level while you’re away.

Pew Research Center data shows that almost two out of every three Americans is a smartphone owner.

Moreover, Pew’s data also says that nearly half of all Americans own a tablet. When traveling, we don’t like to leave those devices behind. Just as you wouldn’t go anywhere without packing your toothbrush and spare pairs of underwear, your smartphone is something you won’t leave home without. That said, while your toothbrush can be used as many times as you want, your mobile devices do have a limited battery life. To overcome that problem, you’ll want to pack the most powerful portable charger you can find, not just any little battery pack.

Having the most powerful portable charger means that, no matter the delays you face, you’ll still have enough battery.

Other handy tips? Consider the following:

• Connect to WiFi when you can – tons of airports, restaurants, coffee shops, train stations and malls offer free WiFi. Use that whenever you can so you can shrink your data usage.
• Download music playlists and movies – do this before you leave. That way, you don’t have to rely on data or WiFi for the entertainment you want (and need) while you’re stuck in airplane mode, don’t have a connection, or don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for roaming data.
• Roam wisely – if you are going to be traveling a lot – particularly internationally – it might be worth your while to investigate plans that are designed for usage outside the US. You can choose options specific to other countries to which you’ll be traveling regularly, or you can find a plan that will cover lots of different places so you’ll have affordable service no matter where you go.
• Keep your power bank charged – don’t forget that even if you have the most powerful portable charger out there, you have to juice it up before you go!