JBL is inviting users to participate in the Indiegogo campaign and provide early response to the concept. The initiative is now live at https://igg.me/at/jbl through January 14th and is fully-funded from day one. By receiving real-time responses, JBL and Exeger hope to incorporate users’ reactions into the optimal go-to market strategy and make any necessary product adjustments to meet the market needs.
The initiative is promoted in response to growing consumer interest in sustainability. The prototype for the JBL REFLECT Eternal was developed for music enthusiasts looking to implement greener habits into their audio world. Unlike traditional solar cells, which require a large surface area and are optimized only for outdoor use, Exeger’s unique Powerfoyle material is specifically engineered to generate power with indoor light and indirect sunlight. This makes the REFLECT Eternal perfect for active lifestyles, allowing the headphone to continuously charge whether in the office for the 9 to 5 or meeting up with friends from 5 to 9. Exeger’s compact and efficient solar cells can offer virtually unlimited battery life, depending on the hours of use per day. The specific headphone model is equipped with a 40mm driver and is specified for 24 hours of battery life (3.7V / 700mAh) using Bluetooth 5 with standard profiles, after only 2 hours of charging via USB. With the Exeger charging technology, users will be able to maintain music playing all the time, according to JBL. Popular noise management technologies, like Ambient Aware and TalkThru, are also built-in in this IPX4 model, to further complement the performance.
“We are looking forward to hearing from our customers and workshopping this sustainable technology with them in real-time,” says David Owens, Vice President, Business Development at Harman. “JBL has been working closely with our partners at Exeger to bring this cutting-edge solar technology into a headphone with JBL’s legendary Pro Sound, and we hope our customers are as excited about it as we are. JBL is pleased to be working with the right partners to contribute where we can to a more sustainable future.”
Exeger founder and CEO Giovanni Fili adds: “I am very excited to share the first culmination of our partnership with Harman - one of the world’s leading technology brands. Together we will introduce a self-powered headphone that can charge from any light around you. Like every investment in integrated clean energy, the more you use the JBL REFLECT Eternal headphones, the more you help restore the carbon balance of the planet.”
Exeger developed its light harvesting technology using a unique dye-sensitized photovoltaic material, named Powerfoyle, that converts ambient light into usable electricity, even in dim indoor conditions. Powerfoyle can enhance any consumer electronic product, extending or even achieving eternal battery life. Exeger’s carbon neutral material is screen printed at its own urban factory in Stockholm, allowing for versatility in production and product development.
Exeger is partnering with ABB to scale up the production of its unique patented solar cell technology. The partnership will enable Exeger to enhance the production quality and develop automation solutions for its new, state-of-the-art, fully automated factory in Stockholm.
Consumers who choose to participate in the crowdsourcing campaign will have the opportunity to pre-order the headphone once it becomes available at a discounted rate. Availability is scheduled for October 2020.
More information about the self-charging JBL headphones is available here: www.reflect.jbl.com
www.harman.com | www.exeger.com
