United Solar, the global manufacturer of UNI-SOLAR® lightweight, flexible solar products and a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) (NASDAQ:ENER) is proud to announce today the commercial launch of the world’s first solar-powered cover for the Amazon Kindle™ e-reader by SolarFocus Technology Co., Ltd., a leader in solar-powered portable products.
SolarFocus’ SolarKindle Lighted Cover uses UNI-SOLAR’s proprietary technology to charge the Kindle’s internal battery as well as the cover’s integrated reserve battery, which is used to power the LED reading light featured on the inside of the cover. The solar cells, located on the front of the leather cover, are charged from direct exposure to the sun, providing unlimited extended power to the device.
The SolarKindle Lighted Cover will be revealed at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week (January 10-13, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The lightweight solar cover will be recognized as a 2012 Innovations Honoree in the Eco-Design and Sustainability Technologies category. The CES is hosted by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and showcases the ground-breaking products and technologies influencing consumer technology.
“The SolarKindle Lighted Cover is a great example of the success of United Solar’s Open Solar™ initiative, which allows our strategic partner, SolarFocus, to leverage the differentiation of our unique high-performance, lightweight and flexible solar cells,” said Chris Bala, Vice President of Sales-Open Solar. “This innovative product represents just how easily UNI-SOLAR technology can be integrated seamlessly and cost effectively into everyday applications.”
The SolarKindle Lighted Cover is available on the web at SolarFocus’ webstore, solarmio.com, and at amazon.com. The product will be available through specialty retail outlets in the U.S., Canada and Europe in 2012.
United Solar, with more than 25 years experience in the solar industry, is the largest manufacturer of light weight, flexible solar panels in the world, and has been awarded nearly 70 United States patents for various technological advancements.