News and Testimonials

This is a copy of an article printed in Best Magazine by John Miller, widely recognized as one of the world's authorities on the subject of supercapacitors. He is the subject matter expert Solarey has consulted with while we developed supercapacitor technology for use in the Ecolight®:
"One recently introduced new product of interest is the Ecolight, a flashlight that uses two 120 F series-connected electrochemical capacitors that can be charged by a solar cell panel located on top of the handle. Charging by sunlight takes approximately one hour, allowing a runtime of about an hour at high output or approximately three to four hours at a lower output level. For illumination the device uses a light-emitting diode or LED rather than an incandescent bulb. The flashlight is entirely self-contained, with no maintenance needed other than leaving it in sunlight to charge. Alternatively, it also has chargers that can be plugged into either a wall or automobile outlet, for charging completed in around four minutes. One interesting feature is that in addition to being completely maintenance free with essentially unlimited cycle life, the Ecolight is also considerably lighter than a typical flashlight. Roughly the same size as a traditional flashlight containing two standard C-size batteries, it is only about one-third as heavy, owing to the lighter weight of the capacitors used. The Ecolight®, in addition to not having the waste stream of batteries, is manufactured from recycled packaging materials, recycled plastic for the body and recycled rubber for the end caps.  Using the AC charger on this device, charging costs are practically zero.  It is thus a very economical product that lacks the waste stream of depleted primary batteries produced by conventional flashlights, is highly efficient, is self-charging through its own solar panel, and can be expected to enjoy long life owing to the high cycle and operational life of its capacitor power source. Just newly available, it complements the two capacitor-powered products described here in earlier columns: the electric screwdriver notable for its very rapid charge rate and the pipe cutter for its very high power performance. In the flashlight capacitors are effective because they can be charged quickly but most especially because of their unlimited cycle and operational life." [Email to Solarey from John Miller: Mark, Thank you for the Ecolight. Sue, Todd and I have examined it carefully and all of us believe you created an excellent product with good performance parameters. Regards, John]

A very cool LED light using capacitors (no batteries) and a solar panel (from Brock's LED Flashlight Page at www.uwgb.edu/nevermab/led.htm )

The flashlight worked great and I enjoyed how lightweight it was. I'll probably want to buy more in the future. Thanks!!! Jennifer

"Hope you enjoy it" .... what an understatement. It is pretty much perfect!! I could not resist opening up the flashlight per your instructions regarding how to dry it out if it accidentally took a dunk. The circuit board is a work of art. Little details like the "caps fully charged green led" were a great surprise. I liked how the charge light is positioned to the rear so you can see easily when it is fully charged due to the "shade" of the flashlight. Thanks for a large lanyard opening. I have replaced it with a matching thick child's locking shoelace which will allow it to be securely fastened or hung. The burn life was understated. This is always a surprise. It was pretty much accurate for useful light but it goes quite a bit longer as a "night light" or emergency light. We get some fairly brutal winters (snow up to your chest ) and loose power etc etc. This light will be an extremely fun addition to my collection of such things. I just hope I can keep the kids mitts off this for awhile anyway!! Cheers! Ken

Hello, I have had your flash light for a few days now. It really is great. Your claim about capacitor charge life are understated. Yes, as the capacitor discharges it light starts to dim, but I am still getting light output 8 hours later! Enough to make it usable. I have tried a half of dozen or more "off the grid" type of lights. I have one crank light with super LEDs that works well, but your device is much better. The dual charging between USB or solar is great. No batteries to eventually die, not shaking, no cranking, and a super cap that will most likely out live me! I am an electrical engineer and I believe your implementation is a home run. You need to go national and go big! This is the right device for the right time. It is important enough for me to message you now. Good luck with your business venture and get this thing out on the market. You can't miss. Best Regards, Doug B

Ecolight user Robert Alderson (Energysources@att.net) reports that the Ecolight is brighter than his big Maglite flashlight.

The Eco-light fits comfortably and lightly in my palm. I still can't believe that it doesn't run on battery. This is one item that I'm looking forward to using on all my camping trips this summer.
Anne Nguyen, Graphic Designer

This LED flashlight is always available when I need it. As a flea market shopper, I begin my work before the sun is up, making a flashlight an essential tool.  The Ecolight has saved me many mistakes in 
purchasing items I couldn't accurately see.  For me the solar recharge function equates to 24/7 readiness making charging or purchasing new batteries an obsolete chore. Paul P pribuss@comcast.net

The flashlight is great. It does have the strongest most focused beam of any flashlight I've ever had and it's very light-weight, which I like. I love it! Doug

Marvelous! and we are putting it in Green2Gold and IWI intl newsletters. Alan Tratner of Green2Gold alan@green2gold.org
      INVENTION SPOTLIGHT: The Greenest Flashlight on Earth! By NORA CATA
Innovation has been the cornerstone in greening America and sustainable, revolutionary technologies are becoming more affordable for the average consumer. Inventors Workshop International member and Green2Gold incubee has managed to create one of these exemplary products. We'd like to recognize inventor Mark Robinett of San Rafael, CA as an outstanding entrepreneur for his ergonomic Ecolight; a supercapacitar/LED flashlight that is the greenest and most travel-friendly in the world. Not only is this flashlight made from recycled plastic and rubber, but it has nearly unlimited recharges and requires no batteries. The Ecolight is charged instead through either an hour in the sunlight, only four-minutes with the AC & Car charger, the AC charge cord goes to a computer USB port! This water-resistant flashlight packs a punch with 50 lumens brightness and a focused beam that travels over 100 feet. By using supercapacitors that store electricity electro statically, there is no chemical pollution from batteries or bulbs thereby making it Restriction of Hazardous Substances compliant. The overall creativity involved in comfort, mobility, and sustainability of this product has made the Ecolight a favorite in the Inventors Workshop International and Green2Gold - as well as terms of user satisfaction!
      In 2003 the Ecolight won the "Best Energy Conserving Product" from Inventors Workshop International (http://www.inventorsworkshop.info/index.php) - this is when the Ecolight was still in its early development and was called the 4EverLite. From their Award: Winner: "4EverLite, developed by entrepreneur Mark Robinett of San Rafael, CA. The device is an innovatively designed flashlight that will last for decades without ever needing batteries or light bulbs replaced. It uses the new technology of Super Capacitors to store electricity, and the new technology of Super-Bright-White LEDs to produce light. Super Capacitors act as batteries, and can be recharged over a million times without loosing any ability to hold a charge. The device can be charged extremely fast. Home or car chargers will charge them fully in less than a minute. It will also fully charge in 1.5 hours in the sun via a solar panel on its surface. The device will stay nearly fully charged if left in a well lighted room. The super bright LED is rated to last 50,000 hours......"

The Book Wish Foundation (www.bookwish.org) in Reston, VA and their partner CORD www.cord.org.uk will be testing the Ecolight in eastern Chad as a possible light source for reading in schools and outdoors literacy classes in refugee camps and villages.  This testing will take place in May, 2009. We will post their findings as soon as they complete this testing as well as their links to their videos on youtube.

The Ecolight has a BLOG at  www.ecoflashlight.blogspot.com  Please feel free to write in it.

This is article is about super capacitors and not directly about the Ecolight:  Super-battery idea wins X Prize competition for next green invention. From the people that brought you private space travel comes another ambitious techno challenge -- a hyper-green battery that can store electrical energy in vast quantities, with super-quick recharging abilities and without environmentally harmful components. Today the X PRIZE Foundation announced the winner of its $25,000 YouTube contest to come up with the next "Crazy Green Idea." Competitors submitted two-minute videos on what they wanted to see invented. Then 4,000-some YouTube viewers voted on them, choosing the "ultra-capacitor" concept from University of California at Irvine students Kyle Good and Bryan Le.
Capacitors recharge in seconds, survive thousands of recharge cycles, and provide high-efficiency electricity by using environmentally benign materials. But here's the challenge: capacitors are far more expensive (and) provide far less energy than common batteries. We invite the next generation of inventors and engineers to construct an energy storage device far more advanced, far more environmentally friendly, far more affordable than we have yet to see in our lifetime.
Watch the winning video: http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/2/5/113616/5562
The winners set the following conditions for developers:
1. You may only use self-contained capacitors.
2. You must exceed the energy density of a lead-acid battery.
3. The device must recharge in less than a minute and survive 500,000 cycles.
4. You must use non-toxic, recyclable materials.
5. The device must cost less than two times the cost of a lead-acid battery.
6. The device must hold enough power to drive an electric vehicle for
100 miles per charge.

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