Comments on: Startup Fenix now selling its off-grid batteries via Vodafone in Tanzania http://gigaom.com/2013/02/20/startup-fenix-now-selling-its-off-grid-batteries-via-vodafone-in-tanzania/ Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:35:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Andrew http://gigaom.com/2013/02/20/startup-fenix-now-selling-its-off-grid-batteries-via-vodafone-in-tanzania/#comment-1314339 Thu, 21 Feb 2013 06:46:00 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=612189#comment-1314339 I live and work in Tanzania and run a solar business. $200 per unit is way off the mark for just about any Tanzanian – especially those who live in the villages. We sell a phone charging unit that charges directly from a solar panel to a phone without the need of a battery. It includes a range of adaptors to cater for the various phones in use here and it costs $20.

]]> By: Mid atlantic http://gigaom.com/2013/02/20/startup-fenix-now-selling-its-off-grid-batteries-via-vodafone-in-tanzania/#comment-1314169 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 21:20:27 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=612189#comment-1314169 Nice idea but I think they are too late and too expensive. People in the villages already know how to hook up a solar panel to a car or motorcycle battery at much lower cost.

]]> By: Tom The Nerf Herder http://gigaom.com/2013/02/20/startup-fenix-now-selling-its-off-grid-batteries-via-vodafone-in-tanzania/#comment-1314135 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:16:22 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=612189#comment-1314135 This is a nice piece of technology, but the battery seems small for use as an off-grid power supply.

When I go off-grid and take electronics with me, I carry a 12v 20aH battery pack, which adds up to 240 watt-hours: about 4 times the power capacity of the ReadySet, and folks I know who RV regularly will cascade 4 or more 100aH batteries.One friend of mine uses 2 solar panels and 4 deep-cycle batteries and never even needs to start his generator under normal conditions.

Why is this unit special, and why is this market not already being filled with existing camping and off-grid tech?

]]> By: Haitian http://gigaom.com/2013/02/20/startup-fenix-now-selling-its-off-grid-batteries-via-vodafone-in-tanzania/#comment-1314103 Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:09:10 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=612189#comment-1314103 Ths sounds great!

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