The Solar Powered Purse

Joe Hynek's solar powered purse. Credit: Iowa State Uniersity

Joe Hynek may get some guff for carrying a purse, but he says it's all in the name of science: He has designed a solar handbag that can power small electronic devices like cell phones.

Hynek, 27, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering at Iowa State University, designed the Solarjo Power Purse during a handbag competition in an experimental garment design class.

The black, rectangular purse is covered with laminated solar panels, which resemble a very thin camera film separated by white lines. Clear plastic handles top the handbag.

The purse is designed to power any small device that uses an USB port, including cell phones, personal digital assistants, iPods, global positioning devices, voice recorders and small cameras.

There's extra padding in the purse for protection and a zipper for security.

Mark Bryden, a mechanical engineering professor at Iowa State who led the project, predicts the idea could bloom into other sorts of wearable items. Already, there are backpacks that convert solar energy into battery power. Another new backback design generates electricity from the motion of hiking.

Hynek has also put the technology on a hat. He wants to eventually market the purse to environmentally conscious consumers. Although materials can be costly, Hynek hopes to keep the retail price under $300.

"I don't want to make it so that it's an elitist kind of item,'' he said.

There are other challenges.

"A large problem with putting technology in clothing is that it looks dorky," Hynek said. "My goal is to use solar cells in a way that's unobtrusive to fashion while making something that's useful."

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.