Electric eel power generation and energy storage

Are electric eels a viable energy source?

Electric eels have inspired revolutionary research into energy and medicine. Researchers have created bioelectric batteries using the model of their electric organ systems to power medical implants. Such innovations seem promising in the creation of sustainable, biocompatible energy sources for low-power devices, such as pacemakers.

How do eels generate electricity?

Eels generate electricity using three pairs of electric organs which contain thousands of electricity generation cells known as electrocytes. These electrocytes can store power in the same way as batteries do. Because of their poor eyesight, eels use low electric discharge to communicate with each other and to track and locate prey.

What is the power of an electric eel?

The authors declare no conflict of interest. Abstract The electric eel is known as the most powerful creature to generate electricity with a discharge voltage up to 860 V and peak current up to 1 A. These surprising properties are the results...

Are electric eels bioelectric?

In this review, first, the bioelectrical behavior of electric eels is surveyed, followed by the physiological structure to reveal the discharge characteristics and principles of electric organs and electrocytes. Additionally, underlying electrochemical mechanisms and models for calculating the potential and current of electrocytes are presented.

What kind of eel is Electrophorus electricus?

Electrophorus electricus, the electric eel, is the largest freshwater species of the order Gymnotiformes. It is both electroreceptive and electrogenic, and is capable of generating both low and high voltage discharges through three distinct pairs of electric organs.

What is the highest voltage an electric eel can generate?

The electric eel is the largest and only freshwater fish species with the intense capacity to generate significantly high electrical discharges (as high as 600 V) from acquired energy.