The K3 Wind and Solar Charger

A fully charged K3 charges a mobile phone over 5 times and charges an iPod/mp3 player over 10 times!*

Just one hour of sun & wind provides about 30 minutes of talk time and over 300 minutes of mp3 music!*

K3 FEATURES

• 2 in 1 dual charging ability for collecting sun, wind, or both
• The largest rechargable battery capacity of its group – ready to use over and over again
• USB port built in with available adapter tips to charge various devices
• Stand up, lay down, or hang the K3 – works in any charging environment
• Power status LED level indicators with the press of a button
• Durable, weatherproof design you can take anywhere
• Storage inside for multiple device adapter tips
• AC adapter included for pre-charging before you go

The product is great for camping, boating, to throw in your glove box or in your attache when traveling. This product is now available at many retail locations or via the companies website store at: http://www.kinesisindustries.com

*Performance figures will vary based on different mobile phone models and iPod/mp3 player models, as well as sunlight intensity and wind speed consistency.

Less Polluting Trucks Lead the Way

Frito-Lay, a PepsiCo subsidiary, recently announced plans to add more than 176 all-electric trucks to its delivery fleet over the next year and a half. Already five all-electric trucks have been deployed for the company’s New York routes this month, with plans to implement a total of 21 all-electric trucks by the end of the year.

They plan to add another 155 all-electric trucks by the end of 2011. The company already has six EVs operating in its Canada fleet which are made by Smith Electric Vehicles. They get up to 100 miles on a single charge, and, like any electric vehicle, are virtually silent.

Frito-Lay launched its first EV trucks in the New York metropolitan area in part because it was given a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Frito-Lay estimates that once all 176+ Electric Vehicles (EVs) are implemented, it will save the company in excess of 500,000 gallons of fuel a year. ”With the seventh-largest privately owned fleet in the U.S., Frito-Lay has set a goal of becoming the most fuel-efficient fleet in the country,” the company said in their recent press release. Smith Electric is currently working with other companies to fulfill similar EV delivery truck plans.

Charging Your Electronic Devices on the Road

Luggage-maker Samsonite is released a new line of solar bags this past summer aimed at on-the-go green eco-phile.

A link-up between Colorado-based Ascent Solar and luggage firm Samsonite could mean an end to running out your phone or laptop batteries. The companies have partnered to launch a new range of solar-integrated travel options set to hit the market early July, making use of Ascent’s flexible, lightweight CIGS modules.

For more information see Ascent Solar or Samsonite

Solar Attic Fan

You can now lower your energy bills by installing a solar powered attic fan. It works regardless of the time of year, to save you up to 30% on your cooling costs.

During the hot summer months attic temperatures can exceed 160 degrees, and small, passive roof vents are often unable to dissipate this heat, which drives temperatures and cooling costs through the roof. In the winter the heat trapped in your attic can melt the snow that accumulates on your roof, which could then refreeze, leading to destructive and costly ice damming.

Also keep in mind, moisture from everyday activities such as showering and cooking produce water vapor that migrates into the attic, and could lead to mold and mildew. And if it saturates your insulation, it could cause fungal decay and destruction of your roof frame and decking. So it helps all year long by reducing your energy bills and potential for indoor pollution today.

For more information see SunRise Solar.

New Lens Increases Existing Solar Panel Input

SolOptics, the solar division of Genie Lens, has created a new lens design that improves solar performance by as much as 12.5 percent. The new thin-film design can be applied to any Photvoltaic (PV) module. The new design is created by the company’s ray tracing software that embosses microstructures onto thin polymer film. That film can then be applied to solar panels much like a screen protector is applied to your mobile phone.

The microstructures in the lens provide greater light absorption via an anti-reflective coating that allows more light to be captured, even if the light is off-center or on an angle. Their coating lengthens the path of light so that more electrons are stimulated and therefore more electricity gets generated. In testing, the microstructures in the lens improved PV efficiency by 10 to 12.5 percent. For more information see SolOptics website.

Putting the Juice at the Use

Petra Solar designs and manufactures the first smart grid interactive solar electric system specifically designed for installation on utility distribution poles, Utility Grade SunWave™ UP Series. The systems, which operate as individual power generation stations, combine solar power, smart grid and power management technologies to enable utilities to improve power quality and grid management. Petra Solar’s systems operate on streetlight and utility poles, connecting directly to the grid’s secondary voltage lines at the pole.

Last July the N.J. Board of Public Utilities approved a contract between Petra Solar and New Jersey’s largest utility, PSE&G, to generate 40MW of power through SunWave solar systems installed on up to 200,000 poles in New Jersey. The intelligent photovoltaic solar units are currently being installed throughout the state’s six largest cities and 300 suburban communities and will be running on the AT&T wireless network. For more information see Petra Solar.

NEXT GENERATION SOLAR BAG

The Juice Bag

Turn free sunlight into clean electricity without moving parts, heat or sound. This Juice Bag has and incredible 7 Watt flexible solar panel made up of 52 solar cells and represents the latest in flexible solar technology. And, while no small solar power device of this size puts out enough power to charge a laptop directly there is plenty enough to power your cell phone or small electronic device like a GPS or MP3 Player.

The Juice Bag comes with a built-in Car Lighter Adapter (CLA) socket – the same universal plug that is used in your car. Just plug in the adapter you would normally use in the car that is approved for your phone, PDA, MP3 player or other 12volt device. The moment sunlight falls on the Juice Bags solar panel, the bag generates electricity. It is that easy and simple to use!

The product can be used by travelers, students, relief workers and many others for whom the freedom of clean, everywhere free energy is important. Imagine going anywhere…anywhere…in the world and being able to keep your satellite phone, GPS Unit or digital camera charged and most importantly it is MADE IN THE USA.
You can buy it directly at the Reware Store.

NRGspot

Public fast charging systems

Together with a utility company called, Eneco, the concept of NRGspot was developed (no relation to this blog). The NRGspot system is part of a public ultra fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles enabling clean transportation in cities across Europe. NRG spot can be used to fast charge electric vehicles ranging from delivery scooters, and electric bicycles to electric cars, buses and delivery trucks. The infrastructure consists of a broad range of different types of charging stations which act together as an overall infrastructure.

The system can be used by subscribers and is accessed through a intelligent interface. After a quick log-in the system can be used to charge the electric vehicle of the user usually within 15-30 minutes. The fast charging functionality is compatible with a whole range of electric vehicles with special lithium-ion battery technology, a list will be made available by the company soon. The systems will be placed initially in large cities at strategic places near shopping malls. The NRGspot can be used by fleet owners such as delivery services, taxi services as well as individual consumers.