“The Product System”

We left from the Netherlands with three basic concepts in our mind: a battery product, a solar product and a hybrid one; meaning a battery product that can be extended to a solar.

Now that the second phase of our research comes to an end we can come to some conclusions:

· A product system based on a battery product is too much hassle for the rural population in Cambodia. Cambodians have to go to a battery charger early in the morning, leave their battery for charging, and come back in the evening to get their battery back. This procedure is a routine for the Cambodians, and takes place almost every 3 days. Hence, 121 times in the year. Adding another product that runs on rechargeable batteries and requires charging from an external party would be an additional burden to their lives…

· Cambodians pay too much for energy and light. Charging the battery every 3 days (1500Riel/time), costs to them 82500Riel/year ($45). If they also use a kerosene light, it costs to them another 50400R/year ($12,6/year). If we add to these costs, the costs of the primary batteries for the flashlights the total costs can exceed the $70/year. That means that almost 1/3-1/4 of the people’s income goes to energy and light expenses (without calculating how often people substitute a battery or a fluorescent lamp). As a result, a solution that adds more running costs is not an option for the rural population of Cambodia.

· From the interviews we conducted, we found out that people like a solar powered light. Although that it is something totally new to them, they seem to embrace the idea. As they often stated they like the fact that they do not have to pay anymore for the light. In one case, an interviewee stated that he is willing to pay even the double price for a product running solely with solar energy.

· A solar powered light is not sci-fi. Using amorphous cells, we can power a lamp of 5-6 LEDs cost effectively.

As a result, our final concepts will be around a solar powered product. That means a light either with an integrated solar panel or with an additional one.