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PROVO — A Utah County startup is trying to take portable power storage to a new level.
Next week, Provo-based Dark Energy will introduce its second Kickstarter campaign in an effort to raise at least $110,000 needed to launch its latest portable charging device.
Called Poseidon, it would be unlike any portable charger available today because it is almost indestructible, explained Dark Energy founder Garrett Aida.
“Born in the outdoors,” the device is meant to withstand the normal wear and tear of everyday life and more, Aida said. Developed to provide long-lasting battery life to people on the go, the Poseidon was created with the adventurer in mind, he added.
“We were out rock climbing and hiking all over and using GoPros and taking pictures with our phones, (and) most of the time we didn’t have the power we needed,” Aida explained.
The new device would solve that problem for most people, he added.
Rated at IP 68, Poseidon is dust-proof and waterproof. The IP Code — or International Protection marking — rates the degree of protection provided against intrusion from body parts such as hands and fingers, dust, accidental contact and water by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures.
“For this device, it is submersible up to 4 feet for 45 minutes,” Aida said. “It is built extremely tough. We’ve tested them to destruction.”
The technology that we are using in the Poseidon is cutting-edge. It has the highest ratings you can get, as far as durability is concerned.
–Garrett Aida, Dark Energy founder
The charger can withstand drops from 6 feet onto concrete without failing, in addition to various other impacts that might occur during heavy-duty outdoor recreation use, he said.
“The technology that we are using in the Poseidon is cutting-edge,” Aida said. “It has the highest ratings you can get, as far as durability is concerned.”
After becoming frustrated with cellphones and portable devices losing battery power at the worst possible times, Aida and co-founder William Lam set out to find a solution. Their latest product could reinvent the high-end portable power market, Aida said.
Weighing just under 8.5 ounces, the device measures nearly 6.4 inches by 3.5 inches, with a thickness of 0.6 inches, and can easily fit into a pocket or backpack, he said. The device can keep a typical phone, tablet or camera fully charged for a week, Aida said, and can hold a charge for more than a year.
Poseidon, which will cost about $139, will take about six hours to fully charge from zero, he added.
After experiencing success with crowdfunding and setting a state record in 2013, Dark Energy expects to introduce the new product through another Kickstarter campaign.
“Now that we have a strong following and have seen the interest in this type of product, we are excited to bring them something even cooler,” Aida said.
Once a mechanical engineering major at BYU, Aida, 28, dropped out just a few classes short of a degree. While his parents weren’t happy with the decision initially, they have come around following the success of his initial portable charger product, Reservoir, which is similar to Poseidon but not as durable and — at $99 — less expensive.
The first campaign raised $173,000. This time around, the company would like to raise $110,000. The campaign will kick off Nov. 18 and run through the end of 2014. The product is expected to reach distribution in early 2015, Aida said.
