SunTable Solar Charger

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Household, Misc. Tech, Storage

The SunTable automatically stores back-up energy of laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, small appliances, and other electronic devices. The silicon solar cells charge the battery for about 4 hours for a laptop. It has volt and hour meters and a 12V DC output. Add its inverter and you have an extra outlet. Made of moisture-resistant teak, stainless steel, aluminum, fiberglass, and acrylic, there are no moving parts and it ships flat. And should it ever wear out, you can recycle it. At a size of 18 x 31 x 54-inches, it was created by Devang A. Shah and Mike Low and is priced at $2,200.00. For that price we wish it would give us a suntan, too.

Read More | SunTable Product Page

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LISA Airlines Solar/Electric Hy-Bird

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Transportation

Yesterday a solar powered golf cart, and today we found that LISA Airlines is developing the Hy-Bird, a 100% electric plane powered by hydrogen and solar electricity. The prototype will contain Trina solar photovoltaic cells on the wing and tail for takeoff. In addition, a fuel cell will assist its cruise flight. An electric engine will keep the plane in the air. LISA is hoping that the the plane will be out by the end of 2009.

Read More | LISA Airplanes

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Solar Powered Golf Cart

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Transportation

It’s summer, so that means it’s time to get out and swing those clubs. How fortunate that Hammacher Schlemmer is willing to make your game simpler with their Solar Powered Golf Cart. The vehicle’s 160W array offers up to 3 amps per hour on its 48V rechargeable battery. This will equal about 10 rounds of golf before needing another full charge. At a size of 7 3/4 x 3 3/4 x 5 3/4 ft. and a weight of 1,100 lbs., the claim is that that the array extends the life of the battery system by 60% more than other golf carts. You have to really love the game to fork over the $8,999.95 and it would help to live in a sunny climate.

Read More | Hammacher Schlemmer

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MIT Makes Inexpensive Solar Dish

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Editorial, Misc. Tech, Science

A team of MIT students has successfully tested a prototype solar dish by lighting a plank of wood on fire. The system is a 12 ft. wide mirrored dish made of thin, inexpensive aluminum tubing and strips of mirror. It concentrates sun rays by a factor of 1,000, enough heat to melt a steel bar. Because water in the tubing turns to steam, the team is hoping that could revolutionize energy production as we know it. We think it’s great and would certainly opt for solar panels over building more nuclear power plants, as was recently suggested by a certain presidential contender.

Read More | MIT

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Fuji Electric Solar-Powered Vending Machine

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech

While we are on the subject of vending machines, the recent Vendex Japan displayed Fuji Electric’s prototype of a solar-powered machine. It is comprised of panels to supply energy to cool and heat beverages, while the mossy cover not only improves insulation, it will add a touch of green to overly grey cities. Coca-Cola is also working with Fuji to make a 100% hydro fluorocarbon-free machine that will appear this July at the G8 summit in Hokkaido.

Read More | ping mag

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HYmini is Green Power

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Handhelds, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video

The HYmini is no ordinary charger/adapter. It utilizes wind and solar power as well as being able to plug into an ordinary wall plug to power up your MP3 player, PDA, digital cam or other 5V devices. The removable wind turbine literally turns green when charging at a 9mph minimal wind speed. It also features an LED night light and built in Li-Ion polymer rechargeable battery power bank. At a size of 5.4 x 3.4 x 1.3-inches, the handheld HYmini is available in black, green, or white for $49.99. Get the basic package online with solar panel and armband at a temporary sale price of $69.99.

Read More | Hymini Product Page

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OSP Robots Clean Up Oil Spills

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science

It looks like SOTAB 1 isn’t the only bot that will soon be attacking oil spills. Designer Ji-hoon Kim’s OSP robots may look like Roombas but love the water. Each has a computer system that plans and controls its motions, a GPS system and radio antenna to communicate with its fellow modules, boom connectors for hooking up to others, a solar panel to collect energy, and an inflatable boom that rolls out for protection. With their small size, they can be moved quickly to the site by boat or helicopter. We hope this is one prototype that becomes real before the next large oil spill.

Read More | Yanko

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Let Solar Charger Do Its Thing While You Do Yours

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video

StrapYa doesn’t just make lovable kewpie dolls and neon balls for dangling from your cell phone. This Solar Power Charger can be attached to your clothing or phone and takes about 6 to 10 hours for a recharge during fair weather. It also comes with an AC adapter for winter (or if you have to have it now) that takes only three hours. There is an LED to let you know when it is ready. It takes about 20 minutes to fill your phone completely and is good for about 500 charges total. The device carries a MSRP of 1,900 Yen (~$18.00) if you purchase this week.

Read More | Strapya (translated)

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Bleeding Edge TV 242: Voltaic Systems solar backpacks and bags

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Gizmatic, Short Bytes, Cell Phones, CES, CES 2008, Clothing, Features, Handhelds, Podcasts, Portable Audio / Video, Videocasts

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Outback hikers and urban explorers alike are often faced with a common problem: how to grab some juice on the go for power-hungry devices. These new backpacks and soon to be briefcases offer a potential solution by pairing next generation solar cells with a battery to enable on the go charging. While the charging might be slow (all day to charge a laptop) it’s certainly a great option in the face of an otherwise completely drained cell phone or laptop.

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DIY Solar Power Bag

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video, Storage

We have been showing you Solar Totes all summer, but if you assume you can do them one better at half the cost, you would probably be right. A 2-part instructional article is available to help you achieve your goal. It only takes a basic bag, a solar panel which costs about $57.00, solder, double sided tape, vinyl tape, about 1 m two-wire cable, and textile glue. The site talk2myShirt is very explicit, yet simplified in its directions and would love some feedback if you create one with their instructions. They also give tips about using your new bag and mention that they utilized theirs to recharge a complete empty iPod G5 in approximately 6 hours.

Read More | talk2myShirt

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