It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘motor mouth’.

Canadian engineers are working on a way to solve the global renewable energy crisis by harnessing electricity from the kinetic power of chewing.

It means no emissions beyond all the hot air coming out of your mouth. (Perhaps these devices should become a mandatory uniform in Leinster House?)

The prototype chin strap becomes electrically charged whenever wearers chew, and developers hope it could be used to power small electrical devices like hearing aids, cochlear implants, and Bluetooth headsets.

The process uses piezoelectric fibres (piezo comes from the Greek for squeeze), which gain an electrical charge whenever they’re stretched.

Whoever said renewable energy wasn't sexy? (Image: IOPScience)

Researchers at Montreal’s École de Technologie Supérieure, say the strap needs to be 20 times more efficient to generate that kind of wattage, but that this can be achieved by wearing multiple bands.

The researchers worked on numerous ways of harvesting electricity by using the body, including head movement and head heat. But their research showed that the flapping of the jaw would reap the most. 

So get ready to strap on, stuff your mouth and save the world.