Designer Yves Béhar’s studio Fuse Project has developed a family of portable power plants with solar panels powered by ultra-efficient solid-state batteries for US startup Yoshino.
California company Yoshino has introduced its latest SSB technology, which is made using solids instead of liquid electrolytes and can deliver twice the energy at half the weight compared to standard lithium-ion batteries. We set out to disrupt the portable charging market.
Behar’s San Francisco-based studio was tasked with overseeing the industrial design, user interface, brand identity, and packaging design of the power plant, which comes in four different sizes, and a series of foldable solar panels that can be used for charging. I was there.
The design of the Hughes project reflects Yoshino’s positioning as a green energy company that wants to provide a strong alternative to fossil fuel generators and reinvents what the battery power plant brand is. It was intended to define.
“New technology advances like this new battery come with a design that expresses technological leadership while demonstrating many use cases that solve problems in people’s everyday lives, whether it’s outdoor projects, construction work, or weekend getaways. We need that,” Béhar said. said Dezeen.
Yoshino said the company’s product is “the world’s first solid-state portable power station” and can deliver up to 2.5 times the energy density of standard lithium-ion batteries, making it ideal for situations such as camping trips or even as a backup generator. It is said that it can be used. For the house.
This focus on the everyday user means that Hughes Projects rejects the masculine, technical associations that commonly define products like generators, creating a more lifestyle-friendly design with a muted color palette and comfortable handle. I started pursuing a directed approach.
“We achieved a softer look for these products by moving away from the very common black and bright color accent approach,” said the designer. “Instead, we used variations of green and gray tones.”
“Across our product line, we also designed comfortable built-in handles to make them more portable and protected,” he added.
Smooth, strong metal handles form a recurring design feature throughout the product range. The ergonomic shape makes the battery station easy to lift and move, highlighting its lightness and portability.
Each product features a dynamic, angular shape intended to enhance stability and convey the idea of power. A shatterproof, water-resistant interface and gently rounded corners further enhance the product’s cohesive aesthetic.
Another recurring motif is the hexagon, which appears in the ventilation ports, carrying strap attachment, base pad, and user interface design. According to the studio, the shape was inspired by the bee, which is a “symbol of nature, hard work, and constant energy.”
Fuseproject chose a subtle color palette that represents green energy and blends in with other products designed for outdoor recreation.
The battery station features AC, DC, and USB outlets to power your gadgets and devices on the go. A wireless charging pad on the top provides an alternative option for charging your phone or tablet.
This power station comes in four different sizes, with the smallest providing 330 watts of power and the largest providing 4,000 watts and includes a 30 amp RV outlet for recreational use.
Yoshino has also developed a variety of portable solar panels that can be used to charge power plants, providing a sustainable and reliable energy source.
The new design language extends to a dedicated app that allows users to check power plant status, charge level, run time and settings from their phone screen.
Yves Béhar founded Fuse Project in 1999. Since then, the multidisciplinary studio has developed innovative projects including the Sionic Neural Sleeve, a bionic wearable that uses electrical pulses and artificial intelligence to correct muscle movements in people with limited mobility. I’ve been designing it. This is the year of the 2023 Dezeen Awards.
The studio also designed Frame TVs for Samsung that look like framed artwork when not in use, and partnered with robotics company Cobalt to create a design that poses no threat to the company’s security robots. did.