Going Solio

A solar charger for your mobile? Now that's smarts.

UK tech firm Better Energy Systems (BES) today launched Solio, its solar-powered portable recharger, into Australia. Originally designed as a 'portable' way to recharge Apple's iPod MP3 player, the Solio has evolved into a multi-functional recharging device for mobile phones, PDAs and even handheld consoles including the GameBoy, Sony PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo DS.

'Now available in Australia, Solio fits in the palm of your hand, captures energy from sunlight and stores it within an integrated battery,' says the press release. 'Inspired to create a product that made clean, renewable energy attractive to mainstream consumers, BES focused on developing a device that was both fashionable and environmentally sound.'

According to the release, Solio has already found favour with the likes of Vodaphone and Apple, who offer co-branded versions of the product, and was reportedly 'invaluable' to rescue workers in recent relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, providing renewable power for communications devices.

BES is marketing the Solio not only as a portable way to power your mobile devices, but also a clean one. ‘Over a twelve month period, 100,000 mobile phone users will produce 172,500 pounds of carbon dioxide (C02) charging their phones from a traditional electricity supply. Solio provides a clean energy alternative that enables users to reduce the level of carbon dioxide they emit into the atmosphere,’ says the release.

Technically speaking
The Solio can be charged via two methods -- the sun and through mains power. Eight to ten hours will see the Solio fully charged by solar power, and five hours for mains. According to the Solio website (www.solio.com), the device can retain its charge for over a year and provides one hour of playtime to an iPod for each hour of charge time. BES contributes the effectiveness of the device to the 'fan blade' arrangement of the solar panels.

Various adaptors are available for almost every phone and portable device under the sun, including USB connectors and Blackberrys. Solio has said that a full charge of the Solio is sufficient to recharge a mobile phone once, and can do so at a similar rate to a wall charger.

The Solio will be available for AU$119 in Harvey Norman and other selected retailers.