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Incogni Review (2026): Does This Data Removal Service Actually Work?

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Data removal services claim to remove your details from data broker databases, thereby limiting how often your information is bought and sold. They become increasingly popular as more people start to realize how widely their personal data is shared online. However, uncertainty is common. Do they work? Are they legitimate or just another online scam?

People want to know if these tools are actually effective and how they manage their data. Especially that results aren’t instant, and not every provider offers the same level of automation, coverage, or follow-up.

That brings us to Incogni, one of the most talked-about names in this industry. This in-depth review examines whether Incogni is good, how well it actually works, whether it’s trustworthy, and how it positions itself against the competition in 2026.

Incogni Overview (2026)

Category Details
Pricing From $7.99/month when billed annually or from $15.98/month
Service type Automated personal data removal
Coverage  420+ data brokers (public and private listings)
Removal model Legal opt-out and deletion requests
Follow-ups Recurring cycles (60 days for public and 90 days for private listings)
Availability The US, the UK, Canada, the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man
Verification and recognition Limited assurance assessment by Deloitte, Editors’ Choice Awards from PCMag and PCWorld
Free plan No, but a 30-day money-back guarantee
Strengths Full automation, broad data broker coverage, recurring removals, third-party verification (Deloitte), affordability
Limitations No screenshots of removals, no exposure scan details, no free trial

What Is Incogni?

Incogni is an automated personal data removal service. It’s designed to reduce your online availability by contacting data brokers and requesting the deletion of your personal information from their databases. This way, you don’t have to chase numerous companies individually. Incogni also keeps track of answers to the requests and sends follow-ups when needed.

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Instead of tiresome and never-ending manual opt-outs, Incogni centralizes the process, operating under privacy laws like the GDPR and CCPA

The provider offers the following features:

  • Automated data removals: Incogni sends removal requests on your behalf to over 420 brokers (additional sites in higher-tier plans).
  • Customer data removals: You can submit specific sites or data sources for additional takedown attempts (plan-dependent feature).
  • Recurring removal cycles: Incogni automatically resends removal requests (every 60-90 days) to avoid relistings.
  • Progress reports and tracking dashboard: The service offers real-time tracking of which brokers were contacted and how they responded.
  • Family coverage: Specific plans allow adding multiple household members under one account for wider protection.
  • Ongoing monitoring: Incogni doesn’t stop after one round of requests, maintaining broker coverage over time.

Its focus isn’t a one-time cleanup but ongoing data exposure management.

How Incogni Actually Works

Incogni’s process is built around automation and legal rights.

Step 1: Authorization

After you create an account, you need to verify your identity. This will allow Incogni to legally act on your behalf when contacting data brokers.

Step 2: Broker Outreach

Incogni starts sending deletion requests immediately. Its data broker list includes hundreds of brokers, both public and private listings.

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Step 3: Tracking

Incogni’s straightforward dashboard logs all the responses, confirmations, and pending cases, so you can (but you don’t have to) oversee the process.

Step 4: Recurring Removals

As data can easily reappear some time after its removal, Incogni submits requests on a cycle. Usually, it’s every 60 days for public brokers and 90 days for private brokers. This step is essential if you want to achieve long-term effectiveness.

This repeat system is what makes this different from one-time opt-outs.

How Long Do Removals Take?

Sadly, there’s no rule, as it depends on the legal response window and broker processes, and both can be rather lengthy.

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Under privacy regulations, e.g., GDPR and CCPA, companies usually have weeks to respond to data removal requests. Some respond quickly; others require follow-ups; some even try to ignore requests. That’s why Incogni uses recurring cycles.

Broker databases refresh on a regular basis, which makes removals an ongoing process. Over time, repeated requests reduce reappearance. According to Deloitte, since 2022, Incogni has processed 245+ million requests.

Pricing

Plan Starting price for a month when billed annually Starting price when paid monthly Includes
Standard $7.99 $15.98 420+ broker removals, recurring cycles, dashboard tracking
Unlimited $14.99 $29.98 Above + priority processing and unlimited custom removals
Family $15.99 $31.98 Standard coverage for multiple household members
Family Unlimited $22.99 $45.98 All features listed above + family coverage

Incogni is also included in broader privacy bundles: Surfshark One+ plan has Incogni alongside Surfshark’s VPN and other security tools. Moreover, there’s a bundle (Data removal & identity-theft protection, all-in-one) with Nord Protect, but it’s for US users only.

Customer Support

Incogni’s customer support is handled by its Help Center and ticket-based system. Users can easily access helpful guides and FAQs as well as submit requests for assistance. Incogni’s customer support team is known to respond quickly and to the point.

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Email-style case support is the main channel. Live chat is available, while phone support comes with Unlimited plans only, giving higher-tier subscribers a more direct contact option.

User Experience

Incogni is designed to be low-maintenance, perfect for people who don’t want to bother doing it manually, as it can easily become a full-time job. As such, setup typically takes only minutes, and the service starts operating in the background. The dashboard is the main control center. It shows contacted brokers, confirmations, and pending requests or required follow-ups.

There are no spreadsheets to manage, no legal templates to send manually, and no need to track the deadlines or reappearances. Incogni was built to operate mostly in the background. So the interface focuses on visibility rather than technical complex details.

In short, Incogni provides transparency and visibility without requiring users to actively manage each step of the process.

Is Incogni Legit or a Scam?

Incogni is not a scam. Several verifiable signals from reputable sources confirm Incogni’s legitimacy.

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Independent Limited Assessment

A limited assurance report from Deloitte examined Incogni’s removal process and concluded that it works as promised. As of now, this type of third-party assessment is pretty exceptional in the data removal industry, and external validation is essential when you want to entrust a provider with sensitive information.

Scale and Transparency

Deloitte also confirmed that Incogni’s claims that they have already processed hundreds of millions of removal requests for its customers is 100% true. The provider keeps documentation about how each request is sent and tracked. Moreover, its removal model relies on formal privacy-law opt-out requests, not simply informal takedown attempts.

Expert Recognition

Incogni has received Editors’ Choice Awards from both PCMag and PCWorld. Accompanying reviews praise the provider’s reliable performance, strong automation, broad data broker coverage, and transparency. They also highlight the handling of ongoing removal requests that require minimal effort from the user.

Public User Feedback

Incogni holds a rating of 4.4 on Trustpilot based on over 2,400 reviews. Most frequent positive mentions include:

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  • easy setup and automation,
  • clear visibility and transparency about the removal progress,
  • noticeable reductions in unsolicited messages and calls over time.

Some critical notes refer to how long it takes to see results and the fact that no service can truly guarantee complete data disappearance. However, that can be expected in this industry, and no provider, including Incogni, promises 100% successful removals.

Overall sentiment confirms that the service works as described, given realistic expectations.

Final Verdict: Incogni Is a Practical Tool for Ongoing Data Exposure Reduction

Incogni is an ongoing data removal service, not a one-time fix solution. It automates legally-backed opt-out requests to 420+ data brokers. Then, it repeats them on a schedule as needed and provides users with clear reports.

Independent assessment, editorial recognition, and positive user feedback confirm that the service works in a structured and reliable way.

Users need to know, though, that the results develop gradually – legal response takes time, and many broker databases constantly refresh. In that context, Incogni appears as an excellent choice, a long-term privacy management tool focused on steadily reducing how broadly your personal data circulates online. 

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FAQ

Will using Incogni lead to a measurable drop in unwanted spam?

Yes, users typically report a significant decrease in marketing calls and emails as the service utilizes legal erasure requests to force data brokers to delete your information.

What is the expected timeframe for completing data deletions?
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While initial requests are generally dispatched within 24 hours, brokers often take 30 to 45 days to comply. Incogni continues to monitor these brokers and resends requests if they do not respond.

Which personal details do I need to provide during account setup?

To identify your records accurately, Incogni requires your full name, email address, and physical address. You can provide multiple variations of these details to ensure older or alternate profiles are caught.

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Can I manage my data removal via a dedicated mobile application?

Yes, Incogni offers an Android app for mobile management, though its full suite of features is primarily accessible through a standard web browser.

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What should I know before trying to cancel a bundled subscription?

If your Incogni service is part of a package like Surfshark One+, you must manage the cancellation through that specific provider’s billing department.

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Iran state media says strikes on AWS data centers were deliberate, due to its support for US

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  • Iran says drone strikes on Bahrain and UAE AWS facilities were intentional
  • Amazon only noted “sparks and fire” caused by “objects”
  • Iran says “structural damage” was also inflicted

Iran’s Fars News Agency has claimed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Crops (IRGC) deliberately targeted Amazon data centers in drone strikes, alleging the facilities supported US military and intelligence operations.

Two facilities in the UAE were reportedly affected earlier this week, with another Bahrain facility damaged by a nearby drone strike, bringing down parts of Amazon’s cloud services in the region.

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4 Gadgets Sold At Lowe’s That Any DIYer Would Consider A Must-Have

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Even the most casual DIYers know that you’ve got to have a good toolkit on hand before you can even start your weekend project. Nobody wants to have to run to the store because they realized ten minutes in that they don’t actually have the one thing they need to get the job done. It’s the difference between a project done right and a project in limbo. And it’s why Lowe’s shoppers need to know about these four time-saving, stress-reducing gadgets they can grab on their next trip.

These tools stand out for their precision, their portability, and their practicality: three things every successful DIYer should want from a tool more than anything. And while none of these four gadgets can replace true experience or skill, they still offer you the right kind of features to make home improvement projects go that much smoother. Here’s a closer look at what makes them must-haves for many DIY enthusiasts.

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Kobalt Self-Leveling Cross-Line Laser Level

Sure, there’s nothing wrong with busting out an old-fashioned level, but this cross-line laser level from Kobalt just makes things so much quicker and easier. It projects bright green horizontal and vertical lines up to 100 feet in either direction, giving you clear reference marks across an entire room. (Not just the length of the level itself, which is what you’d be stuck with when using a traditional one.) Plus, the laser lines are green, which are generally easier to see than traditional red beams. That’s especially true indoors, which can make a huge difference when hanging artwork, installing cabinets, laying out tile patterns, or whatever else you’re leveling.

Kobalt says this level is accurate within one-eighth of an inch. The built-in pendulum system also automatically self-levels within a range of plus or minus 4 degrees within seconds. A manual lock mode also allows the laser lines to be set at an angle, which can be useful for stair railings or other installations. For DIYers, that means less time adjusting tripods or repositioning the tool to chase a perfectly level line. Lowe’s customers say it’s accurate, versatile, and easy to use, giving you that professional-looking alignment without needing to shell out for a higher-end commercial tool.

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Klein Tools Folding Utility Knife with Blade Storage

For a DIYer, few tools are used as often (or as carelessly) as a utility knife. This folding utility knife from Klein, dubbed the Flickblade, is the one to trust. The knife folds for safe and easy storage in a tool pouch or pocket, and it comes with space for five replacement blades for when the one installed gets dull. It uses a side-button release for quick deployment, but don’t call it a switchblade like the controversial Milwaukee version. The blade locks open at either 135 degrees or 180 degrees, giving you the flexibility of a fully extended blade or a partially opened angle.

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Lowe’s shoppers love the knife’s sleek design, its ease of use, and its overall build quality. The comfortable grip and smooth locking mechanism are also mentioned a lot as huge strengths, as is the additional blade storage. If you don’t have a utility knife, you’ll be surprised by just how often this comes in handy for breaking down boxes, trimming drywall, cutting insulation, or even just opening up packages.

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Franklin Sensors Electric/Metal/Wood Finder

Driving a screw into empty drywall… It’s a rite of passage for many new DIYers. The Franklin Sensors ProSensor X2100 can help make sure it never happens to you by eliminating that trial-and-error approach entirely. The device uses 13 sensors to detect both wood and metal studs, which is way more than traditional stud finders. A row of 21 tightly spaced LEDs lights up when you’ve found one, marking the full width of a stud (both center and edges) when used the proper way.

The scanning depth reaches 1.7 inches and automatically adjusts to accommodate various wall materials, whether it be drywall or lath and plaster. A built-in live wire meter adds an extra layer of safety, letting you know if there’s electrical wiring behind the wall before you drill. Lowe’s reviewers say it’s far superior to their older, single-sensor models, and that its detection of both stud centers and edges really comes in handy.

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Irwin Quick-Grip One Handed Bar Clamps

Solo DIYers often long for an extra set of hands. These assorted Irwin bar clamps are exactly that. Plus, their size makes them ideal for smaller home projects where other woodworking clamps can be more of a hindrance than a help. This particular set comes with two 6-inch and two 12-inch clamps, each able to hold up to 140 pounds of clamping force. It’s a mechanical marvel. Not every gadget needs to have some electric component, after all!

The one-handed quick-release trigger lets you adjust or remove the clamp without setting down your project, too. That can be really nice when trying to align small boards, secure trim, or hold glued joints in place while reaching for another tool. Customer comments on Lowe’s website say these Irwin clamps are durable and easy to use, even with one hand. Users also say you can still trust them to hold things in place with a firm grip, even with their small size.

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Methodology

This article was produced using only the manufacturer’s descriptions and customer feedback for each of the four gadgets on the Lowe’s website. This writer’s first-hand experience as a hobbyist and DIYer also factored greatly into the selection process. No outside reviews, third-party testing data, or additional information were used. Claims about performance, durability, and usability all come from the product descriptions and customer feedback on lowes.com.

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Ghanain man pleads guilty to role in $100 million fraud ring

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Scammers

A Ghanaian national pleaded guilty to his role in a massive fraud ring that stole over $100 million from victims across the United States through business email compromise attacks and romance scams.

40-year-old Derrick Van Yeboah pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Thursday and agreed to pay more than $10 million in restitution.

Van Yeboah was a high-ranking member of a large-scale fraud operation based in Ghana that targeted Americans between 2016 and May 2023. He was extradited to the U.S. in August 2025, with accomplices Isaac Oduro Boateng (also known as “Kofi Boat”), Inusah Ahmed (“Pascal”), and Patrick Kwame Asare (“Borgar”).

According to court documents, the scammers (who called themselves “game boys” or “sakawa boys”) deceived vulnerable older women and men across the U.S. who lived alone into believing they were in romantic relationships online and tricked them into depositing money into the bank accounts of U.S. middlemen after gaining their trust.

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The U.S. accomplices would then launder the money, take their cut of the stolen funds, and send the rest to members of the criminal ring in West Africa, known as “chairmen,” who coordinated the fraudulent activities.

The criminals also tricked numerous businesses into wiring funds following business email compromise attacks that used spoofed email addresses impersonating the targets’ customers or employees.

Prosecutors said that Van Yeboah personally conducted many of the romance scams detailed in the indictment and linked him to more than $10 million in losses.

“Many New Yorkers search for companionship online, and no one deserves to have their vulnerability met with fraud and theft. Van Yeboah cruelly exploited those vulnerabilities for over $10 million in illicit profit,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said.

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“Today’s plea is a reminder to be vigilant online—especially on dating websites, never give money to someone you just met—and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

Van Yeboah is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on June 3 and is facing up to 20 years in prison.

Malware is getting smarter. The Red Report 2026 reveals how new threats use math to detect sandboxes and hide in plain sight.

Download our analysis of 1.1 million malicious samples to uncover the top 10 techniques and see if your security stack is blinded.

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Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for March 6

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Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.


Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Today’s was a breeze for me, but read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

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Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

completed-nyt-mini-crossword-puzzle-for-march-6-2026.png

The completed NYT Mini Crossword puzzle for March 6, 2026.

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NYT/Screenshot by CNET

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Mountains on an Evian bottle
Answer: ALPS

5A clue: Sound effect for a pogo stick
Answer: BOING

7A clue: Bert’s buddy
Answer: ERNIE

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8A clue: “Bruhhh!”
Answer: DUDE

9A clue: Candy with collectible dispensers
Answer: PEZ

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Presidential nickname of the 1860s
Answer: ABE

2D clue: “My Sweet ___” (George Harrison song)
Answer: LORD

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3D clue: Affix with a thumbtack
Answer: PINUP

4D clue: Like an unpleasant, mocking comment
Answer: SNIDE

6D clue: “Good grief!”
Answer: GEEZ

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M5 Max Geekbench scores show impressive results, beating out M3 Ultra CPU, matching GPU

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The M5 Max is Apple’s latest high-end chipset built for the MacBook Pro, and early benchmark results show it easily competes with the M3 Ultra.

Silver MacBook with Apple logo closed on a desk mat, VR headset to the right, small black device to the left, blurred colorful background lighting
M5 Max MacBook Pro benchmarks show a powerful processor

Product reviewers are likely running benchmarks on the recently announced MacBook Pros, which means they’ve begun showing up in Geekbench. The iPad Air with M4 has already had its benchmarks revealed, and the latest ones discovered in the public database are for the M5 Max MacBook Pro.
A post by Reddit user One_TrackMinded in the r/macbookpro subreddit revealed the results for Mac 17,7. It seems these results could be for a 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Max.
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How to watch Broncos vs Panthers: FREE NRL 2026 live streams

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Watch Broncos vs Panthers free live streams from Lang Park, Brisbane, as a blockbuster Round 1 clash starts the 2026 season with a bang. Penrith had won four titles in a row before eventual premiers Brisbane pulled off a mesmerizing comeback in last September’s Preliminary Final.

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MacBook Neo benchmark results are predictably close to iPhone 16 Pro, M1 comparable

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Apple announced the MacBook Neo with the A18 Pro iPhone processor, and early benchmarks reveal expected results are in line with AppleInsider’s previous analysis, making it an easy spec swap for the M1 MacBook Air.

Blue Apple MacBook Neo on display table, screen showing colorful canyon video game scene with character; other open MacBooks in soft colors sit blurred in background on wooden surface
MacBook Neo has an A18 Pro processor and that should be plenty for most users

The MacBook Neo is a new and somewhat controversial product in Apple’s lineup. It cuts out a lot of premium features associated with modern Macs to achieve the low price.
One of the cost-saving features is the A18 Pro processor originally revealed for the iPhone 16 Pro. Early benchmarks first discovered by MacRumors show what are nearly identical specs to the iPhone 16 Pro but with a Mac identifier 17,5.
Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Lawmakers launch probe into hidden "eavesdropping" risks in modern computers

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Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Shontel Brown have called on the Government Accountability Office to examine whether modern computers and phones remain vulnerable to what was once known as TEMPEST surveillance.
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The best iPhone 17e pre-orders and plans in Australia for March 2026

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Apple has had a big week full of product launches, and while the new MacBook Neo stole the show, the iPhone 17e was the first domino to fall on March 3.

More of the best iPhone plans

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The iPhone 17e, however, retains the notch at the top of the display and the camera array from the 16e, giving you just a single 48MP rear shooter and 12MP front-facing lens. It also doesn’t have the ProMotion display from the flagship range, meaning the 17e has the same 60Hz refresh rate as its predecessor.

Vodafone and Optus are offering pre-orders for Apple’s new budget handset, and I’ve perused all the offers from both telcos to find the best plans for different users.

Amazon, JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys are offering pre-orders for the iPhone 17e, but there are no discounts at this time. As mentioned earlier, however, pairing the phone with one of our best SIM-only plans can save you more money in the long run.

You can find all the retailer offers available below.

  • Apple AU: Trade in an eligible iPhone SE (2nd generation) or higher for credit towards an iPhone 17e, worth from AU$80 to A$540
  • Amazon AU: All three colours in both 256GB and 512GB available at the world’s biggest retailer
  • JB Hi-Fi: Trade in any iPhone 11, 12, 13 and 14 range handset for a bonus gift card worth AU$150 to AU$615 to apply to your iPhone 17e purchase
  • The Good Guys: Purchase the 256GB models in all three colours

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Ebike Charges At Car Charging Stations

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Electric vehicles are everywhere these days, and with them comes along a whole slew of charging infrastructure. The fastest of these are high-power machines that can deliver enough energy to charge a car in well under an hour, but there are plenty of slower chargers available that take much longer. These don’t tend to require any specialized equipment which makes them easier to install in homes and other places where there isn’t as much power available. In fact, these chargers generally amount to fancy extension cords, and [Matt Gray] realized he could use these to do other things like charge his electric bicycle.

To begin the build, [Matt] started with an electric car charging socket and designed a housing for it with CAD software. The housing also holds the actual battery charger for his VanMoof bicycle, connected internally directly to the car charging socket. These lower powered chargers don’t require any communication from the vehicle either, which simplifies the process considerably. They do still need to be turned on via a smartphone app so the energy can be metered and billed, but with all that out of the way [Matt] was able to take his test rig out to a lamppost charger and boil a kettle of water.

After the kettle experiment, he worked on miniaturizing his project so it fits more conveniently inside the 3D-printed enclosure on the rear rack of his bicycle. The only real inconvenience of this project, though, is that since these chargers are meant for passenger vehicles they’re a bit bulky for smaller vehicles like e-bikes. But this will greatly expand [Matt]’s ability to use his ebike for longer trips, and car charging infrastructure like this has started being used in all kinds of other novel ways as well.

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