Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2009

Courtesy of Sanyo

A lot of the “eco” products hitting the market these days reek of cynical marketing ploys, but Sanyo’s Eneloop range continues to impress. The company’s new portable solar panels are small and light enough to cart off on a camping trip or through the desolate ruins of Tokyo after the Big One hits. The electricity they generate is pumped into a dinky “mobile booster” rechargeable battery pack, which can then be used to top up your cellphone, iPod or handheld console (because, hey, even earthquake survivors need to play Dragon Quest IX). Sanyo claims that an hour in the sun will give you 40 minutes of call time on your keitai, which sounds pretty good to us.

Eneloop Portable Solar, single ¥8,980, double ¥13,800. Available from major electric stores and Amazon Japan.