CES 2009: LG recharges my phone with the sun

LG, which is better know for its cell phones, washing machines, and refrigerators had one of the most trafficked booths here at CES. But outside the convention center, things were really charging up.

I was stopped by an LG rep who asked me if I wanted to charge my phone with the sun. Just moments before, I noticed my battery was low, so I agreed.

I was directed to the LG Skycharger station (click on image at right for a closer look), which uses power from a wind turbine and four solar panels to charge 12 24-volt deep cycle batteries. Those batteries, in turn, charge cell phones through a low voltage array. The single wind turbine on top of the Skycharger is capable of generating 1000 watt max output and requires only 6-mph to get going. The solar panels are able to generate 880 watts of peak energy

On the day I visited LG's eco-power station, there was no wind, leaving the solar panels to do all the heavy lifting. In fact, the LG Skycharger was already simultaneously charging dozens of phones, all neatly locked in phone-sized lockers, when I dropped my phone off with the LG rep. And while the rep said the panels—even under Vegas' sunlit skies— were generating only 315 watts of energy at the moment, LG assured me it was more than enough power to juice my phone along with all the others.

Sure enough, I came back an hour later to a almost fully charged cell phone—along with a bunch a of unanswered text and voice messages.

The LG Skycharger is part of LG Mobile's ecological goal to inspire people to take action. Throughout CES, the big electronics players were touting eco friendly products—such as plasma TVs that use less energy and components free of harmful chemicals and toxins—in an effort to show their green side.

If CES is any indication, we are in for a very green 2009.

—Mike DiLauro