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A British engineer and YouTuber, Chris Doel, created a working electric car powered entirely by batteries salvaged from discarded disposable vapes. His project highlights both the surprising potential of e-waste and the environmental problems caused by throwaway electronics.

Doel collected hundreds of used vapes—devices typically thrown away after short use despite containing rechargeable lithium-ion cells. After dismantling them, he carefully tested each battery, keeping only those still functional. He then combined around 500 of these cells into a custom battery pack, wiring them together to produce sufficient voltage and power for a small electric vehicle.

The battery pack was installed in an older, low-power electric car (a Reva G-Wiz), replacing its original lead-acid battery. Despite the unconventional power source, the car successfully ran, reaching speeds of roughly 35–40 mph and traveling about 18 miles on a single charge.

Beyond the technical achievement, the project’s main goal was to raise awareness. Millions of disposable vapes are discarded every week, even though their batteries can often be reused for hundreds of charge cycles. Doel’s experiment demonstrates that these “waste” components still hold significant value if properly recovered and repurposed.

However, the build also underscores challenges. Extracting, testing, and safely combining so many small, inconsistent cells is time-consuming and potentially risky. It’s not a practical commercial solution—at least not yet—but rather a proof of concept.

In an inspiring act of community service, more than 6,500 volunteers gathered at the Charlotte Convention Center in North Carolina to build over 10,000 beds in just 24 hours. The initiative aimed to support children across the United States who do not have a bed of their own.

Organized in partnership with the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the event brought together individuals and organizations including Lowe’s, Bank of America, and others. Volunteers worked in coordinated assembly lines, cutting, sanding, and assembling raw lumber into finished bed frames.

The scale of the effort was remarkable, using hundreds of miles of lumber and thousands of tools to complete the project. These beds will now be distributed to families across 36 states, offering children a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

With over 140,000 children still waiting for beds nationwide, the effort highlights both the need and the power of collective action. Beyond providing furniture, the initiative delivers hope, comfort, and better opportunities for children’s health and learning.