At this year’s CES, Solarmio introduced the world’s first solar e-reader cover for the Kindle and subsequently became a Design and Engineering Award honoree for the same device.
The SolarKindle is a protective case with a solar panel affixed to the front, an internal backup battery, and a built-in LED reading light. The Kindle “snaps” into place in a form-fitting interior compartment. When the case is exposed to sunlight, it will start charging the Kindle. Once the Kindle is at full capacity, it switches over and gives a charge to the internal battery, which powers the LED reading light. If sunlight isn’t available, the Kindle can be charged using this battery as well. Since charging times depend on sun intensity and other factors, a rough estimate is that an hour of direct sunlight will provide a Kindle with up to three days of power.
Right now this case is only compatible with Kindle 4, with products being planned for the Kindle keyboard, Kindle Touch, and other models in the future.
The SolarKindle case is available through Solarmio for $79.99
