A few seasons ago Signal Snowboards created a prototype snowboard that had a thin layer of solar cells on it’s top sheet that would charge a battery while you cruised the slopes. The board actually worked and now the company has decided to put it into production.
the $750 snowboard needs a solid five hours of direct sunlight to completely top off its battery which can then charge your phone, GoPro or whatever other gadgets you lug out to the slopes.
The Solar Hybrid is more than a snowboard. It’s a power station!
The solar panel embedded into the topsheet collects energy from the sun and powers your electronics as you ride.
A USB battery pack is included with the board.
SOLAR FEATURES
• Recharge Inverter by USB or Solar Panel
• Power Output: USB
• Ideal for Phone, POV cameras, HUD Googles, other USB accessories.
• Snowboard Includes Signal Power Station Inverter and connection cord
• The battery holds 2,000mAh of power
• Depending on the iPhone version, but a completely dead iPhone takes about 3 hours or so to charge
• Depending on the light levels, the fastest the Inverter will charge is 5 hours in direct sun.
• This solar panel has a power output of 440mA @ 4.8V = 2.112W
• For the Power Light, red = charging; green = full
• There is no state of charge indication other than Charging / Full (Red / Green)
BOARD FEATURES
• Wavelength Technology—camber between your feet with rocker on the tip and tail
• gloss silkscreen topsheet, knife-cut Durasurf sintered bases that flop between black and white
• ABS sidewalls in black, Durasurf tip and tails in black
• Poplar core
• biaxial glass underneath with triaxial glass on top of the core
• true Twin shape
• Directional board
GEOMETRY
A couple of years ago the folks at Signal Snowboards tried their hand at making a board with a thin layer of solar cells on top to charge a battery while it careened down the slopes. Not only was their creation a success, it actually worked so well the company decided to put it into production, and it’s now available in their online store.
At $750 the Solar Hybrid might seem like overkill, after all, you’re on a mountain to snowboard, not browse Twitter on your phone. But these days snowboarders hit the slopes decked out in action cameras, HUD goggles, wireless headphones, and plenty of other gadgets that could benefit from a 2,000 mAh portable charger. You’ll need a solid five hours of direct sunlight to completely top off its battery, but that’s just a solid excuse to keep hitting the chairlift until the sun sets.
