SoliCharger juices iPhone everywhere under the sun

If you own an iPhone 3G, you know how the 3G and GPS features eat battery life. The Mophie juice pack is the first accessory I got for mine. I liked it, but like all juice packs, you'll have to plug it in at some point--unless you get the SoliCharger from SoliLight.

This new juice pack for the iPhone (both versions) and iPod is probably the most versatile in terms of how it gets recharged.

The SoliCharger can be charged in any one of four ways: Via Apple's USB charging cord, an Apple compatible car charger, a computer's USB port, or directly from the sun.
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Zap introduces zero-emissions, all-electric van

It's not for road trips, but the van that Zap has introduced at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention might just ease the carbon burden for very local transport.

The Zap Shuttle, which can hold five people, is touted as the US' first 100 percent plug-in, rechargeable electric van. It's meant to replace small shuttle vans that you see going from airport terminals to rental lots and around other short-range areas such as corporate headquarters, college campuses, indoor warehouses, and sports arenas.

The mini-van has optional accessories, such as solar panels, for prolonged use. It has a per-charge range of 30 miles, which is fairly impressive. And it charges in 6 hours using any standard 110v wall socket. There's an optional 220v rapid charger for those who are impatient.

Even better is that the van (as well as a new sister model truck) is street-legal in the US for roads 35mph or under, meaning it could replace scooters in some urban areas. But starting at US$14,700, we don't expect that anytime soon.

Via Crave CNET

NoPoPo's pee-powered battery

There's a sense of finality when something you've Craved about three years ago finally comes to fruition. NoPoPo's pee-powered battery harks back to our 2005 post on Singapore scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology producing what was then the first paper battery to be powered by biofluids (that's blood and urine to you noobs). Back then, one drop of pee (about 0.2ml) generated around 1.5 volts, the same as a standard AA battery, and ran for about 90 minutes. A second droplet added after 15 hours would replenish the charge.

The NoPoPo batteries utilize the same principles. A few drops of water or urine injected into the battery chamber with the supplied pipette is expected to produce a similar charge as an AA cell.

Frankly, there's no good reason to fork out US$15 for a pair of AA or AAA NoPoPo batteries that can be reused only two to five times. But it does up your geek cred for being the only dude running your devices on pee-powered batteries.

Via New Launches

LG announces global green campaign at CES 2009

Announced at its CES 2009 press conference, LG's "Life's Good When It's Green" initiative will focus on environmentally sustainable solutions through product design, manufacturing process, energy efficiency and recycling programs, as well as management of hazardous waste. The company also plans to extend its green efforts to the supply-chain process and collaborate on establishing environment safety standards and policies.

Reiterating the company's objective was Dr Woo Paik, LG's President and Chief Technology Officer, who said in a press statement: "We are committed to establishing clear operational accountability and creating products that not only enhance consumers' lives, but also encourage an environmentally responsible lifestyle."

In the US, LG will be embarking on several programs to kickstart its "Life's Good When It's Green" initiative. For instance, its 2009 HDTVs will come with Energy Star 3.0 rating which the company claims is 30 percent more efficient than non-certified models. Other consumer electronics such as refrigerators and dishwashers will also be made more energy-efficient. LG will also be working with Waste Management Inc. to carry out its recycling program in the US.
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Solar sunglasses harness rays for gadget power

Sunglasses, check. iPod, check. Charger, check. Actually, nix that last one. A new pair of solar-powered shades that double as a gadget charger mean one less item to toss in the beach bag.

The cool-looking Self-Energy Converting Sunglasses by designers Hyun-Joong Kim and Kwang-Seok Jeong integrate into their lenses dye solar cells that convert sunlight into energy. Just plug a device into the power jack in the back of the shades and it's powered up. You're not going to want to plug an electric car into these, of course, but for small devices they could provide a nice (and sleek) solution.
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