So you’re running along, enjoying your day and all of a sudden you Blackberry beeps with a warning saying; BATTERY LOW. Oh no!

Well, Joe Hyneck a PhD student of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University is coming to the rescue! He has created a solar handbag that charges cell phones and iPods.

Here’s the non-scientific version of how the bag works: apparently Hyneck has taken thin-film solar photovoltaic cells and embedded them into the fabric of the handbag. When exposed to the sun, items within the bag start charging. The efficiency in charging is not equal to the charging of a wall unit, however Hyneck is refining the process. He is temporarily calling the item the “Power Purse”.

Once it gets to market it will range from $300 to $400 USD.

Sunny Shum, Your Industry Insider