At a fashion show in Florence, Italian fashion company Ermenegildo Zegna Holditalia SpA showed off the Solar JKT, an outdoor jacket lined with integrated wearable electronics developed by Germany"s Interactive Wear AG and Innovative Solarprodukte GmbH (Solarc). Two solar modules in the coat"s collar convert the solar energy into electricity which is then routed by conductive textile cables to a buffer battery. Zegna aims to ship the Solar JKT coat for an unknown price in the second quarter of 2008.
The silicon-based polycrystalline solar module measures 9 centimeters by 5.5 centimeters and can generate up to 1 watt of power by full sunlight. The battery measures 70 millimeters by 60 millimeters by 13 millimeters and weighs around 100 grams. It requires four to eight hours to load and, when full, can charge a mobile phone or iPod in less than four hours. A 5-volt connection is available for USB devices and a 6-volt connection for mobile phones.