16 replies to this topic

[Sugarhill]

It would be interesting to see if these would take off in America. Or, at the very least, be the start of more technologically forward versions of it. How many people do you think would be willing to limit themselves to a phone with 90 minute blocks of talk time versus the three hours of solar energy charge time?

http://www.treehugge...ts-just-50.html

Quote

It's no iPhone, but it has some pretty solid features: a 2.4" color screen, a camera, Bluetooth connectivity, radio capability, and a dual SIM setup.

[kalasin]

It might interest me because, as I said in another thread, I'm looking into solar chargers as emergency back up chargers.  I have a 2 year old and an often-gone military husband and emergency contact is absolutely essential for me.

[aspen]

This is the first I've heard of solar powered phones and I would certainly consider one in the future. I can see though, a lot of them would be left on dashboards of cars only to melt from the sun.

[Hardison]

I haven't heard of solar powered cell phone. I think it's a great idea. I certainly would buy one because I wouldn't have to carry around a phone charger. I don't use my phone much anyway. Three hours is more than enough for me.

[bryce12]

I would definitely buy one when it hits the market. However I am not very sue of how dependable it would be. Solar power is yet not reliable enough to be used in day to day life and it would take some time before it becomes mainstream. Still it is encouragng to see that people willing to experiment and come up with cool gadgets that use solar power.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Using the sun to talk to a son, son of a gun.

[kayham43]

I would love it if my cell phone was solar powered since most of my classrooms do not have the drapes down during the early part of the day. I would charge it by the window and it would be solar powered by the end of the day.

[siljajoseph]

Benefits Of Solar Powered Cell Phone Chargers

1.To save large amount of electrical energy.The solar panels of which will help in converting the solar energy from the sun into electrical energy through variousreactions.
2. solar powered cell phone charges reside in the fact that they allow you to access power outside the national grid.You can charge yours phoneseven while traveling without depending on electricity.This property has made it possible to make use of these cell phone chargers at any possible place.
3.The last one is the these solar powered cell phone charges are eco/environment-friendly. They don't produce harmful waste, and can be used anytime and anywhere that there is daylight.

[meowcow]

The author brings up an interesting point, it would be hard to get the more well off countries to pick this up when they have the luxury of not having consistent power outages and issues that are similar. I personally think that this product is very logistically specific in that more underdeveloped areas will be the ones who will have more use for it. Solar power will always be, in my opinion, more practical and logical in larger scale products like cars and houses.

[kalasin]

I might have a better opinion on that after I try out my charger.  I'm already wondering how, if it's on a keychain that's generally in my purse, will it soak up enough sunlight?  I'll have to make some routine changes I guess.  If it was the phone itself it gets more impractical, but not impossible.

[fancyfingers]

The cell phone with a solar panel on the back is a cute idea, but I can see where it may not work well here in the states. Anyone with long hair would have a bit of a time to keep the solar panel in full sun while talking, unless their hair is pulled back in a pony tail or braid. In the summer out in the south west, mornings are in the low 90s, and I don't know anyone who will stand there and talk in the full sun to talk.
There are many other things that make this not a good phone for most at least, in the States.

I am a big fan of a portable solar charger that can charge a variety of small things, including a cell phone, laptop, and DVD player to name a few. This would be great for camping, road trips, and even for when you lose power.

[lizzie29]

I really love this idea! I was looking forward to buying solar powered batteries but I have never heard of solar powered cellphones before. I don't really mind waiting 3 hours for it to charge. Sure, it may not be handy as much as a regular cellphone and it may have its down sides but in case of emergencies this solar powered cellphone would be the one to use!

[Earthling]

bryce12, on 29 August 2012 - 10:31 AM, said:

I would definitely buy one when it hits the market. However I am not very sue of how dependable it would be. Solar power is yet not reliable enough to be used in day to day life and it would take some time before it becomes mainstream. Still it is encouragng to see that people willing to experiment and come up with cool gadgets that use solar power.

Say what?
I'm looking at a TANDY DUAL POWERED SOLAR · BATTERY calculator right now, that I bought in London in 1985.

Mobile (cell) phones could easily be backed up with a solar charge capability.

[r. zimm]

It is another fine option but folks like me who work indoors with no windows would only use it on the dashboard of the car to and from work and in the car I can charge the phone off the cigarette lighter anyway.

The important point is that the more green options that are available the more people will be encouraged to try and use them.

[Earthling]

r. zimm, on 19 December 2012 - 02:27 PM, said:

It is another fine option but folks like me who work indoors with no windows ...

That's really sad, even people doing life sentences have a windows in their prison cells.
I couldn't imagine not being able to see natural light streaming through at least one window.

Apart from anything else, you must have some form of paid for lighting on all the time, whereas sunlight is free.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

"Researchers at Stanford University have developed a thin-film solar cell that can be applied to surfaces like
a sticker or decal."
(Including cell phones.)
http://www.treehugge...lar-panels.html

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Related-
NEW YORK, June 18 (Reuters) - "New York City unveiled the first of 25 free solar charging stations for mobile phones on Tuesday, installed in response to Superstorm Sandy, which wiped out power and forced residents to walk miles to charge their phones.

The Street Charge stations are New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's latest answer to flaws in infrastructure
and operations exposed by the historic storm that ripped into the East Coast in October 2012 and left about 900,000 New York City dwellers and millions of others in the region without power."
Article