XPAL's Solar Egg charges to 90% in four hours of mild sunlight
By Thomas Ricker 
posted February 16th 2010 9:00AM
posted February 16th 2010 9:00AM
XPAL AND INTIVATION LAUNCH WORLD'S FIRST HIGH
PERFORMANCE SOLAR CHARGER AT MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS
2010
BARCELONA, FEBRUARY 16, 2010 – XPAL and Intivation are launching the Solar
Egg, the world's first high performance solar changer, at Mobile World Congress,
2010. The Solar Egg is based on XPAL's outstanding battery expertise and Intivation's
groundbreaking SunBoost solar conversion technology. Built by XPAL, with high
power consumption users in mind, the Solar Egg can reach over 90% battery charge
in just four hours of exposure during average charging conditions.
The charger is the first of its kind to recognise the power and convenience demands of consumers across the world and the challenges presented by less sunny places. Built to power a wide range of devices, from phones to MP3 players and digital cameras, the Solar Egg will reduce the need for multiple chargers and conveniently offer greater battery life.
"Solar power is a huge unrealised energy source particularly in the Western world which tends to have fewer hours of sunlight than developing markets," says, Christian Scheder, President, XPAL, "As personal devices demand more energy and solar charging technology improves, we are making solar power available to more consumers and changing the way people world power their portable devices."
Paul Naastepad, CEO, Intivation, added; "For years, people have been struggling to use solar chargers in the Western world with several issues. Either they simply don't work with lower levels of sunlight, or they charge so slowly that it's not worth it. Together with XPAL, we have developed a product that produces enough energy to power the numerous personal devices we all have today. The Solar Egg charges fully in four hours, in medium levels of natural light, and is compatible with the majority of consumer devices, bringing it one step closer to the
universal charger people want."
The Solar Egg will be available in select regions from March, with further roll out expected globally later this year.
PERFORMANCE SOLAR CHARGER AT MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS
2010
BARCELONA, FEBRUARY 16, 2010 – XPAL and Intivation are launching the Solar
Egg, the world's first high performance solar changer, at Mobile World Congress,
2010. The Solar Egg is based on XPAL's outstanding battery expertise and Intivation's
groundbreaking SunBoost solar conversion technology. Built by XPAL, with high
power consumption users in mind, the Solar Egg can reach over 90% battery charge
in just four hours of exposure during average charging conditions.
The charger is the first of its kind to recognise the power and convenience demands of consumers across the world and the challenges presented by less sunny places. Built to power a wide range of devices, from phones to MP3 players and digital cameras, the Solar Egg will reduce the need for multiple chargers and conveniently offer greater battery life.
"Solar power is a huge unrealised energy source particularly in the Western world which tends to have fewer hours of sunlight than developing markets," says, Christian Scheder, President, XPAL, "As personal devices demand more energy and solar charging technology improves, we are making solar power available to more consumers and changing the way people world power their portable devices."
Paul Naastepad, CEO, Intivation, added; "For years, people have been struggling to use solar chargers in the Western world with several issues. Either they simply don't work with lower levels of sunlight, or they charge so slowly that it's not worth it. Together with XPAL, we have developed a product that produces enough energy to power the numerous personal devices we all have today. The Solar Egg charges fully in four hours, in medium levels of natural light, and is compatible with the majority of consumer devices, bringing it one step closer to the
universal charger people want."
The Solar Egg will be available in select regions from March, with further roll out expected globally later this year.
Looks good, I just wish they wouldn't have had the internal battery. I'd prefer to be able to put a few rechargeable AAA's inside this baby.
Seems like it would be a lot more usable in the real world. I like my solar charger for the outdoors, but the sun needs to be bright for it to really start working. For the most part I just charge it via USB before I leave.
Can I take it on a plane, and put it in the window?
I am less interested about this particular device and much more interested in the technology behind it.
I personally think that just like almost all calculators now a days run on solar, I think most small portable electronic devices should be running on solar within a few years.... and having solar cells that can charge from mild sunlight is key to that.... as is the use of lower-power mobile chips.
@Hazdaz
One thing I noticed about solar calculators recently is that apparently CFLs don't charge them (at least not all CFLs). I have replaced a large # of bulbs in my house with CFLs and found out my solar calculator won't work unless I turn on a incandescent light.
@scyber
Good to know. Thanks!
@scyber
I have never heard of that before. I know that CFLs don't throw out the same spectrum of light that regular incandescents do, but never heard them not working with solar cells. Maybe it just happens to be the cell-brand in the calculator that you own. Strange.
Either way, LED lighting is the future and I believe that LEDs in general have a more "natural" spectrum of light than CFLs.
@Hazdaz I was just wondering the same thing as I found a device called the IllumiCharger which charges electronic devices that can be charged via USB by harnessing light energy from ceiling lights.
Very cool stuff. All these renewable energy products are still in their infancy stages. I hope, and anticipate, seeing a large flux in these types of technologies in the coming decade.
500mAh? Of course it charges in four hours; you're charging a thimble.
@Dan Fruzzett
Agreed, double the battery size and we're talking.
@chiefy
Just buy two.
Not much use to us in the UK. Now if only someone could invent a Rain powered version...
500mAh? I would already have one on my wishlist but what the f am i going to do with 500? great I can remind my phone its dead, wait 4 hours and repeat?
Briefly thought the title said it charged in 4 hours of WILD sunlight, got super excited, then super disappointed. :(
Have to agree with the readers above... this thing needs about triple the capacity to be of any practical use. That would put it in the range of actually fully recharging most smart phones, once.
what do you mean once? the thing can clearly rinse repeat and do over
@pax copia Sorry about that. Clarification, in order to fully recharge most modern smartphones (iphones, androids, etc) from a single charging sessions, it would need triple that capacity (1200-1500mAh) otherwise you are going to get a very modest charge at best (assuming it can meet the 5ish volt requirement to even get that trickle going).
Maybe an adequate solution for emergency situations, but in that case why not just get a rechargable AA powered solution. The whole point of a solar rechargeable unit would seem to be something you're going to charge and reuse on a very frequent situation away from AC sources. 500mAh seems hardly adequate for more robust devices. When dealing with devices of that caliber (small radios, flashlights, etc, it seems more logical to have an integrated solar charger.
Bet it will work with everything -except- an iPhone. :)
In a flash, it happends to me that i see a solar porket.. It looks so pretty that i can't lose it. BWT, does it support 12V devices? Such as, 12v battery, 12v car battery charger... Well, to me, a 12v solar battery charger is a must and build-in 3000mAh capability at least. I also found this style at:
http://www.espow.com/wholesale-solar-charger-3000mah-fit-bluetooth-devices-cell-phones-digital-cameras-mp3-mp4-players-pda-dv.html