Energizer Solar Powered Battery Charger to Debut at CES
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California 
on 12.19.08
Photo via Good Clean Tech
Looks like there are going to be greener ways to charge up AA and AAA batteries, and it's not just a concept.
Energizer is going to debut a solar powered battery charger at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show.
Good Clean Tech got an inside scoop on the upcoming gadget (don't worry, we'll get up close when we attend CES so you can see more).
According to Good Clean Tech, the device:
• will feature a USB-out port to power other devices (since some cell phones, cameras, and GPS units have USB plugs, like most iPods for example);• can be charged from an AC wall outlet in addition to the sun;
• and is weatherproof to withstand the elements.
It looks to go on sale this summer for about $50 which is a little pricey for a battery charger, but not overly so, and is worth it to be able to utilize solar for your batteries.
More info to come soon.
Via Good Clean Tech
More on Battery Chargers:
Febot, the Wind Powered Battery Charger
New NiMH Charger Juices Up Batteries in Just 15 Minutes
Green Batteries: Battery FAQs
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While the USB feature is nice, solar powered battery chargers are nothing new. I've owned once since 2003 and have been charging my AAs AAAs and even 9V batteries with it ever since. It also has various adapters for cell phones and can be used with an AC wall outlet as well. I'm happy to see a large mainstream company make these so that more people are exposed to them, but this is not a new concept.
Nice to see this stuff go mainstream. How long in the sun does it take to charge the batteries?