I’m going to knock off a few points for product naming, as I’ve no idea how to pronounce the kit’s included Kalhuohfummi battery, and will make a fool of myself whenever I refer to the Maroshi solar module. But the two work together, with the solar panel providing up to four watts of power an hour in ideal sun bathed conditions, enough to charge the battery in about four hours. The Kalhuohfummi can then be used to recharge any USB-friendly device, with enough juice to top off a couple of iPhones.
But free, slow energy is just the beginning. The battery module also tracks how much power the solar charger has generated, calculating and sharing the CO2 emissions you’ve reduced on the Changer’s website. Your do-gooding can even be tweeted to your followers, though their praise and adulation isn’t the only reward.
The more energy you produce using the Maroshi solar module, the more Changers Credits you’ll earn, which can be redeemed for yet-to-be-revealed perks, which we’re assuming are going to be just as Earth-friendly. The Changers starter kit is available for pre-order for $US149, and ships sometime around the middle of November.
Unfortunately, they don’t ship to Australia yet, but we’ll let you know if they add us as an option, or find a local distributor.
[Changers Solar Charger via Wired]
Sam G
Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 9:34 PM4 watts an hour?
Do you mean 4 watts for 1 hour?
Or just 4 watts?
Brett
Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 9:58 PMExcept in Australia (and probably most of the world) you wouldn’t be reducing a single gram of carbon emissions (at least until these devices are VERY mainstream).
Coal fired power stations will be still running at a fairly constant base output. Until the power usage on the grid is consistantly low enough to turn a turbine off, these things won’t make a difference to emissions.
In fact, in the short term at least they probably increase them – as you could just be using your regular chargers, rather than manufacturing something new.
Ozoneocean
Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 11:08 PMYou have to start somewhere man.
Roman
Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 11:21 PMexactly.
philthy
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10:20 AMhmm if only they started 60 years ago… but as they say: my children’s children (if i stop watching web porn lol)
iceleron
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 12:50 PMWhile people are correct about the nominal change in emissions, you are exactly right when you say it’s got to start somewhere.
The more people that use these technologies, the faster this type of technology is developed better.
Can you imagine a future where solar cells might be powerful enough to run your PC? It may change the world someday.
Till then we can change the way we look at it.
I love technology like this. Solar power has always been awesome!
luck
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 12:50 PMcharging electronic devices uses little energy. this kind of charger is useful for things like camping/off the grid holiday homes.
chugs
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 1:54 PMdoes the calculations take into account the electricity to build it? what about the electricity to build its components and ship it to the plant that assembled it and in turn power that was required to transport it to the shop?
Franz
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 5:43 PMThis is still old solar tech. The next gen stuff isn’t far away now.