There is no end to the awesome innovations that will be on display at this year's Maker Faire Bay Area, the world's largest DIY festival, taking place at the San Mateo Fairgrounds on May 22nd and 23rd. One of the new green energy projects to be on display (and in use!) is Austin-based Sol Design Lab's SolarPump Electric Charging Station, pictured above at this year's Coachella Music Festival. We caught up with Beth Ferguson, Sol Design Lab's founding director, designer, educator for a seven-question interview. Here's what Beth had to say.
1. Tell us about the project you're bringing to Maker Faire.
The SolarPump Electric Charging Station is an urban intervention; it is designed to help people re-imagine the future of transportation by showcasing solar electric charging stations as part of the future for carbon-free cities, leaving gas mobility as a thing of the past. Imagine turning the corner and instead of your local gas station and convenience store, people are playing music and charging their electric bicycles and cellphones at a solar-powered charging station, while lounging in the shade of the solar roof on furniture made from recycled street signs.
