It’s 2022 and we need to get as eco-friendly as we can! We can no more continue living the way we always have, ignoring the needs of the environment and being insensitive to Mother Earth. Living a more conscious life also includes taking into consideration our energy sources. Curbing fossil fuel consumption has now become a priority, and we have a more positive energy source in mind as an alternative – the Sun! Solar power is taking the world by storm. Designers and architects are coming up with solar-powered products, homes, hotels, offices, and automobiles! Solar energy can be used to power almost every object we use in our day-to-day lives. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of product designs backed up by the sun for you – from a Tesla trailer with solar panels to a luxury yacht that runs 100% on solar energy!
1. The Tesla Solar Range Extending Trailer
It isn’t quite like Tesla to do anything without fanfare, yet at the IdeenExpo in Hannover Germany, the EV giant unveiled a prototype of yet another product they’re working on – a trailer that attaches to the back of your EV, with fold-out solar panels and battery packs that help expand your EV’s range
Why is it noteworthy?
The Tesla Solar Range Extending Trailer is pretty massive. It would perfectly complement your Cybertruck when hooked onto it, and it boasts a set of fold-out solar panels that charge a huge battery pack below it. The impressive trailer even sports a built-in SpaceX Starlink satellite internet receiver providing you with a smooth internet connection, irrespective of where you are.
What we like
- Features a SpaceX Starlink internet terminal
What we dislike
- We don’t know if or when it will be launched
2. Solgaard Solarbank Boombox
Finding a decent Bluetooth speaker may be easy because there are many options. But getting the best or the most affordable one isn’t always the goal. The aim now is to make “greener” choices for the future of the planet. For this reason, the new Solgaard Solarbank Boombox portable speaker enters the market with a sustainable design.
Why is it noteworthy?
The upcycled plastic design refers to speaker cloth and outer shell from plastic waste. These are waste materials but had been upcycled and used instead. This process is part of the brand’s initiative to pull about 5lbs of plastic for every product sold.
What we like
- The Solgaard Solarbank Boombox lets you enjoy music while the battery harnesses the power of the sun
- The Solarbank Boombox is also now sand-proof, water-proof, and drop-proof
What we dislike
- No complaints!
3. The Casio G-Shock GAB2100
The Casio G-Shock GAB2100 is a stunning analog-digital solar-powered watch that does a lot more than simply telling the time. It’s powered by solar energy, so you can rest assured that it won’t die anytime soon. The watch sports a sleek body and doesn’t appear to be bulky or overwhelming.
Why is it noteworthy?
The retro styling is overshadowed by the fact that the watch comes with Tough Solar power and Smartphone Link features. The Tough Solar features work, thanks to the film-like solar panel found on the dial. It is highly resilient and can convert power from the sun. Actually, it doesn’t really need the sun to work as regular light sources are enough to power up the watch.
What we like
- Compact and lightweight
- A rugged design and outstanding durability
What we dislike
- No complaints!
4. Sunnyside
Meet Sunnyside, a nifty bento box with a self-heating AND cooling feature that brings your lunch to the right temperature just before your meal. A heating coil around the metal container helps evenly conduct thermal energy around your food, keeping hot stuff hot, or if you’ve got something like an egg/potato salad that’s out in the sun, a pair of fans located on the bottom of the lunchbox pull out warm air, ensuring your food doesn’t spoil in the heat
Why is it noteworthy?
However, the most impressive bit? Sunnyside relies almost entirely on a solar panel built right into its lid, working off renewable energy. A solar panel built into the lid helps charge the Sunnyside’s internal 10,000mAh battery that powers the lunchbox’s heating and cooling features, and a tiny LCD screen and buttons on the side help you control your Sunnyside, choosing how hot or cool you want the contents of your box to be.
What we like
- Doubles up as a wireless power bank to charge your phone, AirPods, or even your laptop
What we dislike
- No complaints!
5. The Oneiric
Christened the Oneiric, this twin-hulled catamaran sports Zaha Hadid Architects’ signature fluid design and comes with a solar-paneled roof that lets the yacht run entirely on renewable energy.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Oneiric is a 42-meter-long yacht (or a catamaran to be precise) with a twin-hull design that gives it a broader footprint. Its organic, fluid design falls well within the identity of the design language Zaha Hadid Architects is known for. The main deck features a saloon containing a bar and integrated sofas that open onto a second deck with an inbuilt hot tub and two sets of steps that lead down into the sea.
What we like
- Has the ability to switch to 100% solar energy
What we dislike
- No complaints!
6. Solego 2.0
Clean, green, and renewable energy is nowhere more needed than in locations where electricity is not only expensive but also as rare as gold. These are areas where power generators are the go-to solution of homeowners and businesses, which often translates to gasoline generators. These, after all, are nearly ubiquitous, which means they’re easy to find and, more often than not, inexpensive. They are, however, also the worst in almost all other aspects, so more efficient and more economical options are always in high demand.
Why is it noteworthy?
Solego 2.0 addresses those needs by being green in two ways, with the most obvious being how it charges its batteries from the sun. The design is modular so that each battery “pack” can be stacked or extended to provide more power as needed.
What we like
- The battery uses LiFePO4 or Lithium iron phosphate that doesn’t contain rare earths
What we dislike
- No complaints!
7. The Ford Transit Custom PHEV
The Ford Transit Custom PHEV is the midsize van well suited for camper conversions – as Dethleffs and Wellhouse Leisure have shown in the past. Now Campervan Co, known for its hybrid camper vans, gives outdoorsy people enough reason to explore their world with Ford Transit PHEV Eco Evolution.
Why is it noteworthy?
While on the outside the camper van looks like any the Ford Transit, on the inside it has all that’s required for a comfy life on the road. The customized camper gets powerful solar panels installed on the roof, generating around 1,000 watts of zero-emission power on a good sunny day. The fold-out solar panels can charge the Eco Evolution’s 3,000-watt Clayton Power leisure battery while it’s rolling on the road. This onboard battery is employed to power the modular kitchen, lighting system, and induction stovetop for living comfortably off the grid.
What we like
- The well-illuminated interiors will not make you feel bogged up at any time – especially during extended camping or road trips
- The removable kitchen modules give the occupants option to save space and improve the mileage when the Ford Transit will be used for daily commuting
What we dislike
- No complaints!
8. The Generark HomePower 2
The Generark HomePower 2 is a backup battery for your home that’s cheaper than setting up a generator or shelling $12,000 on a Tesla Powerwall, it’s also classier and less noisy than those gas-powered generators that definitely seem archaic
Why is it noteworthy?
Recharging the HomePower 2 can happen in multiple ways. The backup battery kit comes with an optional set of solar panels that can be set up anywhere, replenishing your HomePower 2 in hours… or you could just traditionally plug the generator into a socket in your house and juice it up for a rainy day. Once recharged, the HomePower 2 can hold onto all that energy for an entire year, making it much more affordable and easy to maintain in the long run.
What we like
- Cheaper than setting up a generator
- Sleek and compact form
What we dislike
- No complaints!
9. The Kalk AP
CAKE has been on a quest to develop sustainable electric bikes with its first custom-built electric off-road motorbike introduced in 2018. Then the Swedish marque again surprised motorheads with the funky modular bike dubbed Ösa which could be personalized depending on the specific needs. Now CAKE wants to protect the African wildlife from the impending threat of poachers. They call this new version the Kalk AP (for anti-poaching), and it’s solar-powered for good measure.
Why is it noteworthy?
The clean energy-powered drivetrain means less noise which in turn means minimal disturbance for the native wild animals in their habitat, and also a means not to alert the poachers on the prowl. The bike doesn’t need to be hooked to the electrical grid for a charge, adding to its versatility in operation sans any time delays. This two-wheeler is based on the original Kalk bike that created quite a buzz when CAKE burst into the scene.
What we like
- The solar-powered bike gets smaller wheels and a wider tire configuration to evenly distribute the pressure on the ground
What we dislike
- No complaints!
10. Elves
For eco-conscious travelers and adventure seekers who want their environmental footprint to be minimal, this collection of mindful camping accessories is the way to go.
Why is it noteworthy?
The camping gear comprises solar-powered independent items that are designed primarily for conscious travelers who want to camp in the wilderness with little or no impact on the environment whatsoever. The highlight of the gear is the smokeless camping fire pit, which is portable, lightweight, and easy to set up. Other accessories comprising the Elves include a coffee brewer, tableware, and hanging lights.
What we like
- The reimagined camping gear is made in a way that it can charge by the day and emit by night
What we dislike
- No complaints!
