We all like to be seen in traffic and we might be all maybe a bit more enthusiastic about lights and light systems if we only did not have to deal with batteries or dynamos. The solution to this dilemma might be Magnic Light – a system that utilizes eddy currents.

If eddy currents is an unfamiliar term to you, you are most likely not alone. Wikipedia though explains “eddy currents are electric currents induced in conductors when a conductor is exposed to a changing magnetic field; due to relative motion of the field source and conductor or due to variations of the field with time.” Sounds simple enough.

For the Magnic Light this means that the magnets are in the light system and it reacts to the rotating rim. So if your bike has steel, aluminum or magnesium rims (sorry carbon rim dudes) this light could work for you.

The system is the brain child of German Dirk Strothmann, and the light uses CREE XM-L T6 LED bulbs that feature quite an impressive output and a slightly smaller taillight is also being offered.

The Magnic Light mounts onto most any side pull brake, but an adapter is also available for frames with cantilever brakes.

But here comes a bit of a catch. The Magnic Light is currently a project on Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects. What that means is that once a certain number of pledges is reached, in this case $50,000, then the project will roll, and if for some reason it does not reach that "magnic" number, no one gets charged a nickel. All these transactions are handled vie Amazon Payments. But with 20 days to go in the fundraising effort the Magnic Light has moved past the halfway mark and looks thus actually promising and realistic.

MSRP: $130 (front light only)
More details: kickstarter.com

The system was just introduced to the public at a trade show in Essen, Germany the last few days and has already received quite a bit of buzz.