Maier Sports are working in conjunction with partners from the "Solartex” energy project in the state of Baden-Württemberg, to find a solution that suits alpine skiers and other winter sports fans alike.  Electronic gadgets, such as iPods and mobile phones, have become a mainstay of modern- day living. The only problem they pose is their energy supply, especially when you are out for long stretches and there are no mains plugs about.

A prototype ski jacket has already been developed, whereby flexible solar cells can generate up to 2.5 watts of power in optimum sun conditions. The photovoltaic elements are positioned in exposed areas, which are also ergonomically sound, such as the shoulders and the back. Ultra-thin, washable micro-cables are sewn into the material and direct the electrical current to a universal point, where a variety of devices or batteries can then be charged.

The project partners successfully developed a technique for the integration of electronics and solar power cells. They elected to use the Swedish-Dutch model of flexible solar cells designed by AKZO-Nobel. These new cells made from amorphous silicon have the necessary protective coating yet are only half a millimetre thick and at optimum sunshine have a 5% effectiveness rate.  To obtain maximum energy production, they must be placed in areas exposed to the sun, which is why Maier Sports enlisted the help of Hohenstein’s Institute of Clothing Physiology to develop special pouches on the back and upper arm of the ski jacket to store the cells.