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Solar-powered Handbag
karvind writes "BBC reports that a student, Rosanna Kilfedder, from Brunel University has designed solar-powered handbag to make finding keys and other items at the bottom of a bag easier. The handbag, dubbed Sun Trap, uses a solar cell attached to the outside of the bag to trap energy from sunlight. The energy is stored in an internal battery which lights up the lining. The lining is made from an electroluminescent material and is lit up by the bag's zip which acts as a switch. The bag goes dark when the zip is closed or after 15 seconds if it is accidentally left open. A secondary use of the portable battery is as an emergency charger for mobile phones and other wireless devices."
in the windows of cars parked in the sun, powering anti-theft alarms
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The Mercedes E series offers a solar panel sunroof, which operates the car A/C on a sunny day. Personally, I think that's a far better application of solar power
Its obvious, and its been done. But its gets you maybe and extra half mile a day at peek performance while costing and extra few thousand, just not worth it for the cost ratio. Plugin hybrids make much more sense, and you can attach those to better quality larger solar collectors if you wish
no it doesn't. it operates a VENT FAN on a hot sunny day. no solar panel that size, let alone the semi-transparent ones that make the "solar sunroof panels" can generate the 100+ watts of energy that it takes to run the AC in a car. let alone the fact that the AC compressor in that car is belt driven by the engine.
If that tiny solar panel can run the AC in the car then they need to stop making cars and start making/selling home power systems.
a small vent fan != the AC.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.