Granted, not many solar-powered chargers are efficient enough, but there are some models out there that can do their jobs pretty well. One that has been attracting praise is Solio Bolt.
This 3.5in x 3.5in x 1in battery pack and solar charger features an on-board battery and rotating solar panels and it can be used to charge USB enabled gadgets such as smartphones and MP3 players, e-readers, GPS devices and cameras – just about most types of equipment we have in our offices, really.
One of Solio Bolt’s design innovations is an aperture in its center where a pencil (included in the package) can be inserted to work like a sundial. Insert the pencil and point the system towards the sun, rotating it until the pencil stops casting a shadow. It helps the charger to make the most of the sunlight and recharge more quickly. It takes roughly a full day in direct sunlight to charge the Bolt’s on-board battery. As a less green option, the Bolt can also be charged by plugging it into a computer through a USB cable that is included in the package. In this case, it takes about 4.5 hours to fully charge the device.
To buy, visit the Energy Refuge store.
