Voltaic Generator Solar Briefcase Can Charge a Laptop

Voltaic Systems, makers of the only solar bags worth buying, have announced the "Generator," an attache case with a panel that can produce up to 14.7 watts—enough to recharge a laptop over the course of a day. (That's the first thing anyone ever asks me when they see my Voltaic backpack. It's always a little bit of a disappointment to explain how large the panels would need to be.)

Like other Voltaic bags, the Generator has a built-in battery pack that is constantly topped off during the day from which laptops or other gadgets can be charged, even at night. And like the others, the Generator's fabrics are made from recycled PET soda bottles.

The Generator is a whopping $600, though. I can testify that Voltaic does a good job with their products and I'm sure this model is no different, but that's a heap of cash. I would actually consider it if it were a backpack, despite the fact that it would be huge. I'm planning on doing a lot of travelling next year and I'm going to try to carry a single, carry-on sized bag. I may have to see if I can buy a similar panel and battery pack and rig it up to something like this Victorinox bag.

Product Page [VoltaicSystems.com]

[#1 posted by strider_mt2k , January 9, 2008 5:48 AM]

That is a VERY nice case, but YOWCH that's expensive.
Between the panels and the batteries I understand, but it still puts it well outside the common man's reach. (If not his grasp.)

I agree with wanting the utility of a backpack, but that's a whole new nest of snakes from the design standpoint.
Perhaps flexible or textile technology will help eliminate the problems in the near future?

[#2 posted by cans , January 9, 2008 5:29 PM]

Given the cost, you may want to just use a Brunton SolarRoll (http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=256).

You could probably rig something up to attach it to your backpack, as well.

[#3 posted by Rusty , January 11, 2008 12:41 PM]

I BOUGHT A GREAT SOLAR BACKPACK AT OFFICE DEPOT THIS PAST FALL AND IT IS AWESOME. FOR $79 IT HAS A SMALL SOLARPANEL NOT SO OBTRUSE THAT CHARGES MY IPOD; CELL PHONE AND BLACKBERRY.
IT HOLDS FOR A FEW HOURS WHICH IS PERFECT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE YOU CAN BUY THIS BUT THE TAG ON IT SAID WWW.HYPNYC.COM

ITS WORTH FINDING ONE