Solar-Powered Samsonite Line Set for Release

Finally, an excuse for geeks to go out and get some sun!

Samsonite recently announced it would tap Ascent Solar Technologies to equip an upcoming baggage line with solar energy panels. The whole idea is to provide businessmen and gadget freaks with a portable source of power.

But laptop owners may still have to plug in. Ascent’s technology, based on something called copper indium gallium diselenide (for some reason abbreviated as CIGS), allows for flexible and thin panels. This bag-friendly configuration however “only” provides enough power for pocket gadgets like smartphones, portable media players, and GPS navigators.

Ascent however claims that CIGS is more efficient than traditional silicon-based solar cells, at least from a practicality point of view. The same technology powers a proposed “silent sentinel” UAV designed to stay in the air quietly for surveillance purposes.

Whatever the case, Samsonite has yet to release pricing and availability info, or what kind of bags will end up equipped with Ascent’s sun-dependent tech. Personally, will these CIGS equipped bags come with the necessary adapters to power a variety of gadgets? Stay tuned for updates!

Samsonite Selects Ascent Solar Modules for Integration Into Carrying Case Products