Advancements in technology have reduced the sizes and weights of solar panels, while increasing their efficiency. This allows for small lightweight portable solar chargers to be produced. Another factor which plays a part in the rapidly expanding field of portable solar power, is the increased amount of electronic gadgets that we carry around.

Twenty years ago there were not many people walking around with cell phones. Today, most of us carry at least a cell phone, iPod or MP3 player, and a digital camera around with us - either on a daily basis, or during weekends and vacations.

With all these electronic gadgets comes the need for electricity and power. And, thus portable solar chargers have found their niche.

There are several advantages to using portable solar chargers and solar panels. First of all, they are eco/environment-friendly. They don't produce harmful waste, and can be used anytime and anywhere that there is daylight.

Many people think that solar chargers can only be used in warm sunny areas. This is not necessarily true. Solar panels are more effective in colder temperatures. As a matter of fact, a solar charger or panel would create more electricity on a clear day in Alaska, than it would in the sun of the Mohave dessert. This is because the temperature of the solar panel influences the effectiveness with which it can convert solar energy into electrical energy.

The above fact, combined with the increased effectiveness of solar panels, has made solar chargers an attractive method of powering or recharging small electronic gadgets.

These days, a small solar battery charger can run your cell phone, iPod, or MP3 Player. It can recharge your digital camera and it can be used to recharge batteries.

Some solar chargers, such as the Solio Charger, even come with internal batteries which are automatically charged when the solar charger is exposed to daylight - allowing you to recharge your cell phone or other electronic device from the solar charger, later on. Solar chargers with built-in batteries usually store sufficient power to recharge your cell phone twice, or to run an MP3 player or iPod for several hours. A digital camera can also be fully recharged by one of these devices.

Solar chargers are starting to be a part of many standard emergency kits. They are a reliable source of power so long as there is daylight available.

Solar chargers are a convenient source of power in remote areas, on field trips, or when out hiking and camping. They can recharge batteries, cell phones, or other gadgets in any location.

In addition to being convenient, solar chargers are a clean energy source and do not cause pollution or other harmful emissions while creating electricity. They also reduce the need for disposable batteries, and thus reduce the overall volume of harmful chemicals and toxic waste in circulation on the planet.