That’s right, a Hackable Solar Powered USB Charger!

This has to be one of the coolest green things we’ve seen come across our laps.. er.. laptops.

Ryo Chijiiwa a computer scientist from University of Chicago, has come up with this awesome design for a DIY/Hackable Solar Charger/Power Pack for your smart phone or USB powered device. Which is awesome sauce.

Ryo started a Kickstarter page with a goal of $7500 to produce 100 units. With less than 20 days to go, he’s already raised DOUBLE that amount! That’s how excite people are to see this product come to fruition, and we’re excited as well (damn this iPhone battery life)

Some Technical Specs:

• 5W monocrystalline solar panel (optionally 10W), with a compact stand
• 6Ah/22Wh Lithium Polymer internal battery. That’s enough capacity to recharge an iPhone 4-5 times, and recharge an iPad about 70%.
• Two USB ports with up to 1.5A output (one port configured for Apple devices, with output up to 1000mA).
• Charge controller circuit that can charge the internal battery in as little as 6 hours, *while* also charging an external device, all from clean solar energy!
• Bamboo enclosure — more sustainable than plastic!
• Easy assembly (no soldering, just some gluing and screwing… with screws.)
• Open Source and hackable circuits have extra pads for soldering on your own wires/connectors.

Hackable? – That’s right : since the device is completely DIY if the future provides new technologies to make better solar cells, or faster data cables, YOU can easily replace the parts to update the device.

For more information on the BootstrapSolar Portable Power Pack Kit goto Kickstarter

In short – we love it – we want one – Gimme. Gimme. Gimme.