Solar powered lamps are great, but they’re usually not pretty. That could be about to change very soon though. The Japanese company Sphelar Power Corporation has recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to start exporting their so-called Lantern, a solar powered lamp that is designed to resemble an hourglass with lovely hardwood accents, which makes it perfect for any home. They also make a handheld version of the lamp called Stick.
The Lantern and Stick are both made using solar micro-sphere cells developed by Sphelar, which are capable of harvesting solar energy from all directions, meaning they harvest it a lot more efficiently than traditional flat solar cells. These spheres, together with the LED technology, solar charging, and a modern design make these lamps perfect for indoor and outdoor use, and they fit very well with the rounded design of it.
The Sphelar Lantern needs to be in the sun for 4-6 hours in order to get fully charged, and its internal battery has a runtime of four hours. It was designed to be placed next to a window, or another spot where the solar beads can be hit by the sun. The Stick, on the other hand, can be used as a flashlight. It has a white LED lightbulb, and according to the designers, it is bright enough to be suitable for use as a bike headlight. The Stick needs to be charged for 6-8 hours of sunshine, to offer one hour of light. The lamps both also have a mini-USB port that allows for charging the battery from a different source.
The Lantern has been available in Japan since 2011, and this is the first time it will be exported. Backers can get the Stick for $129 and the Lantern for $349 via the Kickstarter campaign, while other backing options are also available. The lamps will be available in January 2017.
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