The Power of the Sun: Interesting things that are solar-powered

Solar is all the rage… well, maybe not yet, but based on the growing number of solar-powered objects out there, it will be soon. From chargers to cars to bridges, here are some of today’s and tomorrow’s coolest solar-powered things. Sadly, you can’t buy them all —but they can still be marvelled at as they light up the world with renewable energy

Solar-Powered Bike Locks

The Skylock is one of the most futuristic-looking bike locks out there. It actually has a built-in solar panel that, according to the company, will provide enough power for a week after just one hour of charging. The Skylock uses Bluetooth technology so owners can unlock their bikes using a smartphone; it also has a whole bunch of security features that can alert people if their bike is being tampered with or alert the authorities if you get into an accident.

WakaWaka Power

The WakaWaka charger requires 12 hours in the sun to build up a full charge, but once it’s juiced, it can power three MP3 players, 1.3 smartphones and one e-reader. It reportedly can charge an iPhone 5S in just two hours and is made of high impact-resistant plastic.

Organic Transit ELF

Called a velomobile by some and a “big white egg” by others, the ELF is one of the most daringly weird offerings out there. Essentially a cross between a stripped-down electric car and a bicycle, this three-wheeled vehicle boasts a 100-Watt solar panel on its roof, an aluminium alloy frame, headlights, taillights, break lights, and indicators. Its electric speed is about 20 miles per hour, and it can go over 15 miles on a charge, which can be achieved either by plugging it in or putting its solar panels to work — and even if its power is completely drained, you can always pedal it.

London’s Blackfriars Bridge

Blackfriars Bridge is now officially a solar-powered structure; in fact, it’s the world’s largest solar bridge, according to Solarcentury. After being fitted with 4,400 photovoltaic panels, Blackfriars Bridge is expected to reduce the CO2 emissions of Blackfriars Station by about 563 tons per year. CNN reports that on a sunny day, the bridge can generate as much as a megawatt of electricity.

Solar Backpacks

Even though they might not be the most stylish of accessories, solar-powered backpacks pack quite a wallop when it comes to technology; thin-film solar modules are attached to the outside of the backpacks, which provide power in the range of about 4 Watts. Charge phones, tablets, cameras and more while simply walking around in the sun.

Solar-Powered Cars

Among the new concepts for solar cars is the Ford C-Max Solar Energi concept, which sports roof-top solar panels that contain a special “solar concentrator lens” that Ford says will work like a magnifying glass to concentrate solar power and provide hybrid plug-in benefits without needing to plug in. The Stanford Solar Car Project, started in 1989, produces even more futuristic vehicles, although none of them are commercially available… but if the solar car trend catches on, these bad boys might be cruising the streets someday.

Solar-Powered Tents

Inspired by England’s Glastonbury Music Festival, design and engineering company Kaleidoscope teamed up with telecommunications company Orange to create a concept for a tent that powers mobile devices — and itself. The tent, which would feature three banks of photovoltaic cells and fits four people, was designed to soak up sun during the day and illuminate itself at night, even generating surplus energy for vendors’ carts, sound equipment, and more, says Kaleidoscope.

Moser Lamps

These lamps are one of the coolest gadgets because they’re also one of the simplest. Created by Brazilian mechanic Alfred Moser, these lamps are actually just plastic bottles filled with water and bleach. Yet when installed in the roof of a house, the lamps produce light with a strength of 40 to 60 watts, which is stronger than some light bulbs, according to the New York Daily News. Sunlight refracts through the bottles to make them glow like lamps, providing a cheap and renewable source of light to poor families all over the world.

Source: adapted from https://wallstreetinsanity.com/11-of-the-coolest-solar-powered-gadgets/

*Please note that these items are not sold by Laatz Electrical*