Most jackets these days are just here for style purposes and protecting from cold or wet weather. Australia’s CSIRO (the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) is working on a new jacket design that can charge your iPod or cellphone.
While we’ve seen clothes that charge devices before, such as Solar Powered Bikini’s, never before have we seen one that is multi-talented as this “Flexible Integrated Energy Device” or FIED as they are calling it. FIED harnesses the vibrations caused by your own body, and utilizes these vibrations for energy. — Andrew Dobrow
Having your grill be solar powered might not be much help as the smoke from your charred burgers fills the air, but its one of the coolest damn grills we’ve ever seen. The Solar Powered Grill might not play MP3s, but it can sure heat up some steak.
Using the same technology you used when you were 7 and burning insects with a magnifying glass, the Solar Powered Grill uses a mirrored piece of conclave metal which focuses the reflected heat on to a cooking panel. While it doesn’t use the typical solar panel method, it gets the job done, providing you with slightly dead beef to consume. Just pay close attention, this thing might heat up really quick, and no body likes charcoal burgers. Available for $240. — Andrew Dobrow
From the same people who brought you the Solar Powered Wii kiosk, here is the Solar Powered Nintendo DS Lite. The crazy modders over at Tom’s Hardware managed to mod the Soldius 1 solar-powered cellphone charger to connect directly to the battery cable of the DS. Check out the site for a video documenting the process, which was considerably difficult despite the simple explanation. — Andrew Dobrow
The great outdoors become all the more great during the warm days of summer. Though for us, the outside poses the obstacle of finding a source of energy to power our electronics. While we might not go as far as to wear a Solar Powered Bikini, we would thankfully use our girlfriends to supply our beloved electronics with power. Made with a series of 1″ by 4″ photovoltaic film panels which can produce 6.5 volts from 1.5 amps, the Solar Powered Bikini allows woman (and maybe men?) to not only enjoy the sun and get a tan, but to power their iPods and keep their drinks cool.
Designed by Andrew Schneider as part of a design like called iDrink, comes equiped with an included USB connection to create a whole new gadget experience. One day, maybe solar panels will be embedded into cloth to produce a clothing line of power clothes. Not that…we would wear. — Andrew Dobrow
Hi-Tech Wealth, a China-based company, is displaying this solar powered cellphone at CeBIT, called the Light-Energy Mobile Phone. The clamshell design offers a solar panel taking up one of the sides of the flip phone which is constantly sucking in power to be used for the phone.
When the phone is on standby the charge stores itself “forever” claims the company, although keep advised that blabbermouth teenagers will have to plug it in from time to time to keep a full charge. As of now, the Light-Energy phone is merely a concept and no information has been released regarding release or shipping information. — Andrew Dobrow
Ever been invited to a friends house for the first time at night, but had to call them 20 times because of the inability to see any of the numbered addresses on the houses? We’ve all been there. By the time you get to the house, your friend is already so sick of talking to you that hanging out just isn’t that fun. These solar-powered illuminated house numbers by EZView could help solve all of that.
During the day the numbers are turned off to charge for the rest of the day. At night, the numbers light up with a red glow that makes them visible up to 100 feet away. Plenty of room for most homes to be found easily. No need to worry about the elements either. The numbers are completely weatherproof. Each number strip costs $15, so the longer the number on your address, the more money you’re going to have to spend. Though, it will most likely save you hassle and money in the future. — Andrew Dobrow
Those Japanese are known for their prolific inventing. Though, being prolific doesn’t always mean being effective. As you can see from a few of the 12 pics Ueba.net collected, Japanese ingenuity always has its heart in the right place, but occasionally lacks a brain.
Rain water collector
Since 70% of the world covered in water isn’t enough.
Venturi has announced its concept car, for now named Eclectic. A fully self-sufficient and autonomous energy vehicle that gets fuel from only natural occuring processes. The solar, wind, and electric powered Eclectic is being designed to make hybrid cars look like a truck with a broken exhaust pipe in comparison. With its 2.5 meters of photovoltaic cells, at least one wind turbine, and NiMH batteries, the Eclectic is designed for urban driving, without the killer smog. And if just doing good for the Earth wasn’t enough, it will also give buyers the option of WiFi kits and a water resistant Sony Radio/CD/MP3 player. The design looks something like the love child of a golf cart and a Hummer, which is more attractive then it sounds. A limited edition of 200 Eclectics will be available in early June of this year, with a gradually increasing availability by 2009. More pics with different angles after the jump.
