Solar-charging backpacks set for hike to market

Mascotte's messenger bag prototype

(Credit: Mascotte)

G24 Innovations has shipped its first flexible solar panels, which are destined for the outside of backpacks and other bags, the company said Wednesday.

The U.K. company's dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are thin-film photovoltaics that can be manufactured in flexible rolls relatively cheaply. It is a material the U.S. Air Force has been looking into for use in its unmanned aerial vehicles for longer endurance.

G24's DSSC cells, which are designed to create electricity from indoor light as well as outdoor sunlight, will be put into commercial use by the manufacturer Mascotte Industrial Associates.

Solar backpack, duffel

(Credit: G24 Innovations)

The Hong Kong-based company is integrating the DSSC panels into a line of backpacks, duffel bags, e-book covers, camera bags, and messenger bags that can then be tapped to recharge items like cell phones or cameras.

Mascotte plans to display its solar bags at this week's Hong Kong Electronics Fair, and the products could be available to consumers as soon as December, according to the company. Mascotte has already filled its Web site with photos of potential products.

While Mascotte won't be the first to offer solar recharging in a backpack and while it hasn't released its price list yet, the company's use of DSSC cells may make it the first to offer a bag at a reasonable price to the masses. In 2006, Tumi offered a limited edition PowerPack, which cost almost $700. In mid-2007, the Mana Solar Claw offered a $230 solar backpack cover.

[ausernamenoonehaschosen]

This may seem a little too nerdy for some, but this is something I at least would love to have. Use while hiking, and in times you aren't around a mains power supply would make these handy to have.

I only wish they would provide minimum and maximum current output specifications (i.e., low and high light conditions) for whatever constant voltage they produce. People don't seem to realize how little energy you get from solar panels, and this would be useful in knowing how long it would take to charge your device.

[carlhage]

A 10cm square would generate about a watt, but only at noon perpendicular to the sun. So if you are hiking north midday while bending over at a 65 degree angle, you might get enough power on a backpack to recharge a cell phone. But if you walk the wrong direction or are standing straight, it won't generate much. Realistically, it would only work while the pack is off and aimed at the sun, but then you need to leave your cell phone in the pack in the sun.

Wouldn't a better idea be a Vietnamese-style hat with a panel that you could rotate to aim at the sun? Might look silly, but it would work better. Construction workers could just attach a panel with rotating mount to attach to a hard-hat, and the space between the hat and head could hold the phone while charging.

This gadget shouldn't be considered green, as it would be very unlikely to pay back the electricity used to make it, simply because it would be rarely used. Buy a hand-crank charger and a share in a solar farm where the panels are optimally aimed at the sun and used every day all day.

[lccro]

The hard part of this project is finding nerds outdoors =)

[bcstringham]

"ausernamenoonehaschosen" You ARE too nerdy for CNET. Stay away

[TheWiiKid]

These are not new. They have had them available on Chinese wholesale sites for a couple years. Ya there different, but you make it sound like its amazing technology.

[paoconnell]

The solar panel might be useful for long distance hikers that need to charge batteries, but the charger needs to be very light, needs to be able to charge any regular rechargeable battery (preferably at least 4 AAs).
The solar panel needs to be easily attachable to any backpack, small or large, not just on a specific pack (as shown in the article) that might be uncomfortable for a specific person.

[chizzit]

When they come up with one that can charge my laptop even while I am using it then I will take an interest.