Eton Raptor emergency radio trades the crank for solar power, rakish good looks

If “danger” is your middle name and yet “caution” a favorite word, you’ve probably already got an ugly old emergency radio buried somewhere in your car. Today, Eton’s unveiling a model that you might actually feel comfortable using in public without disaster having to strike first. The solar-powered Eton Raptor boasts a slender, 11-ounce carabiner-like design that seems positively packed with tools, including the typical (AM / FM / WB radio, compass, LED flashlight), the adventurous (altimeter, barometer) and the plain ol’ useful (audio line-in, bottle opener). It’s also got a USB port for charging gadgets from the internal 1800mAh battery and takes splash-proof cues from the Eton Soulra. No word on price, but we know a few road warriors who might be interested when it hits shelves in the first quarter of next year. PR after the break, images immediately below.

Continue reading Eton Raptor emergency radio trades the crank for solar power, rakish good looks

Eton Raptor emergency radio trades the crank for solar power, rakish good looks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The SunCharge Gives a Faster Solar Charge

SunCharge.jpgCharging your gadgets the natural way is a great idea, but if you’ve ever tried using a solar charger you know it can take forever. Offering a faster charge is Choice Solar, which is announcing the U.S. distribution of its SunCharge charger. At 2.7W, it delivers 4 to 6 times the power of most solar chargers on the market.

The SunCharge was originally created for use in India, where the need for affordable, reliable mobile phone charging is an immense unmet need, the company says. The charger comes in two configurations. The Universal Cell Phone Solar Charger includes five common connectors and lists for $39.95. The iPhone Solar Charger works with iOS devices and includes a battery that can be recharged using a USB connection. It lists for $79.95.

Solar Powered…Cargo Pants?

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We’ve seen all sorts of solar powered gadgets here at GoodCleanTech, from keyboards to patio umbrellas. But this might be the first solar powered pair of pants.

Created by Silvr Lining, and dubbed the GO Urban Cargo pant, the pants feature photovoltaic solar panels built in to each of the cargo pockets. Each pocket also features an independent power supply, meaning you can charge up two of your gadgets at a time. The pants themselves are made from Ultrasuede and are available in both grey and green.

But solar powered clothing doesn’t come cheap. Just one pair of GO cargos will run you a staggering $920.

Via Inhabitat

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: electric cars compared, molten salt solar, and a renewable Merry Christmas!

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green.

Electric vehicles took the country by storm this week as both the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt were officially released to eager customers – if you’re still trying to decide between the two, check out our electric vehicle smackdown, which compares the two EVs based on their most important features. We also took a spin inside Honda’s electric Fit, and we showcased a futuristic home decked out with enough solar panels to completely charge an EV. The Sonex airplane also signaled bright horizons for electric aviation as it completed its maiden flight.

Meanwhile California lit up the newswires by giving the green light for the state’s first molten salt solar energy project, and San Francisco announced a plan to generate 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. We also saw ten European countries forge a plan to build a massive renewable energy supergrid in the North Sea, and we showcased two hot examples of wearable teach that harness body heat – Fujitsu’s solar-thermal power band and a band-aid styled mp3 player.

Finally, this week Inhabitat geared up for the holidays by showcasing 6 brands of dazzling LED christmas lights that save you energy and money, we showcased some innovative Christmas trees made with unusual materials, and we highlighted out favorite green gadget gifts for the holidays this year. And when all those presents are unwrapped we know exactly what to do with the aftermath – researchers have developed a way to recycle 100% of the material in plastic wrapping paper and artist Jason Rogenes wowed us with his incredible futuristic spaceships made from the styrofoam used to package electronics.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: electric cars compared, molten salt solar, and a renewable Merry Christmas! originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Army testing solar powered tents for troops, gadget addicted campers

While the military is still hashing out plans to outfit soldiers with their own smartphones, gadgets are already a part of daily life of troops in the field. Of course, more technology means more demand for power, and the Army has been evaluating technologies for flexible, lightweight photovoltaic tents and shades. “They are ideal for charging up batteries, making sure your (communications), night vision goggles and computers are powered up. You don’t want a generator on top of a mountain, and you don’t want to have to bring fuel to a generator or haul batteries,” said assistant secretary of the Army Katherine Hammack. Among the various items being tested are the TEMPER Fly, a roughly 16-by-20-foot tent able to generate 800 watts of electricity; QUADrant, a smaller version of the TEMPER Fly that generates roughly 200 watts of power; and Power Shades capable of generating up to 3 kilowatts of exportable electrical power. Sounds like a kick-ass tent for next year’s festival season!

US Army testing solar powered tents for troops, gadget addicted campers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Military Considering Solar Powered Tents

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The US military is looking into using solar powered tents to power essential gear. In fact, the military has already created some of these tents, which utilize Flexible Photovoltaics technology, and they have been deployed in places like Afghanistan.

“They are ideal for charging up batteries, making sure your [communications], night vision goggles and computers are powered up. You don’t want a generator on top of a mountain, and you don’t want to have to bring fuel to a generator or haul batteries,” Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, explained.

Three different types of tents are being evaluated, capable of generating anywhere from 200 to 800 watts of power. The tents vary in size, but each uses flexible solar panels as a way to gather energy. And while they’re still in the evaluation phase, it looks like the widespread use of these tents is all but assured.

“The technology has reached the point where the testing has shown they [solar-powered tents] are proven,” said Hammack. “Our teams have worked on the inverters and the durability of the systems. The durability of the tent covers has evolved to a point where we would like to see more of them deployed.”

Via Inhabitat

New Device Harvests Solar Power And Human Energy

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There devices that can gather up solar energy, and even ones that can harvest heat and turn it into energy. And now Fujitsu has developed a device that can do both. At the same time.

The company has developed what it describes as a “hybrid energy harvesting device” that gets power from both heat and light. So if you were to wear it on your wrist, for example, the device could gather energy both from your body heat and the sun. Fujitsu says the device could be used as a battery in many instances, and is looking at utilizing the technology to power sensors and medical tech.

But while we know how it works, details are still slim so we don’t really know how well it works. Still, it’s a great idea and one that could be used for a wide range of applications. Maybe one day you’ll be able to charge our phones through the battery attached to your arm.

Via Engadget

Fujitsu hybrid energy harvester makes power from light or heat, gets us closer to human batteries

As fleshy meatbags, we tend to give off a lot of excess heat as we futilely live our lives. Fujitsu wants to help capture every last particle motion, and all the other warmth we generate through the myriad of other inane activities like driving cars, firing rockets, and trying to not freeze to death. But, it’s not just happy with that, developing a new “hybrid energy harvesting device” that does double-duty by also capturing light from the sun. It’s a process shown after the break but, with no hard numbers to go with that pretty picture, we’re not sure just how efficient it is at doing either. Still, there are some 6.7 billion people worldwide. How efficient does it really need to be?

Continue reading Fujitsu hybrid energy harvester makes power from light or heat, gets us closer to human batteries

Fujitsu hybrid energy harvester makes power from light or heat, gets us closer to human batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 11:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists Discover Solar Powered Hornets

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The oriental hornet is more active during the day, and tends to become even more active as the temperature rises. And now scientists have discovered the reason: the hornets are solar powered.

It turns out that the distinctive yellow stripe on the hornet’s abdomen is actually full of tiny protrusions that gather sunlight and harness it for energy. The insect also features a special pigment, called xanthopterin, that helps with the process. “Xanthopterin works as a light harvesting molecule transforming light into electrical energy,” Dr Marian Plotkin told the BBC.

Wasps and hornets tend to be more active during the morning, and this new research explains why the oriental hornet is different: it stays out during the day because there’s more sun.

Energy Producing Clothing Gets Power From Movement, Sun

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Imagine if you could create energy by simply moving. Sounds far fetched, but researchers at the University of Bolton in the UK are working on a new type of clothing that could do just that.

The scientists have created a new material–they’re calling it a flexible piezoelectric fiber–that can be woven into fabric to create energy producing clothing. The material is able to produce energy simply from movement. And the team is also working on adding the sun into the mix, so that your shirt could potentially be solar powered as well.

“The most immediate applications will be in the area of low-power microelectronic-driven devices like mobiles, laptops, MP3s, iPads–anything that requires re-chargeable batteries or small batteries to run,” explained Professor Elias Siores. “Obviously you wouldn’t leave your laptop out in the wind and the rain but movement created by being carried in its case or being placed near a widow could be enough to generate the energy to recharge it.

“The next challenge will then be to improve on the power conversion through on-going research and development so it can feed more power-hungry systems.”

Via Treehugger