The Powertraveller powermonkey eXplorer was deemed best of breed portable charger by DigitalReviews. 

The hot news is that this particular primate family is growing and there are two siblings waiting in the mist. 

The Powerchimp and Powergorilla are undergoing final primate trials before presenting themselves for duty. 

Powerchimp
The Powerchimp is the smaller brother of the Powermonkey.  It is a nifty little charger for most portable gadgets which can also re-juice rechargeable batteries.  A fully charged up Powerchimp can recharge most mobile phones two times fully.  Aside from the recharging capability, the Powerchimp has an integrated LED torch located at the top of the unit.
 

The Powerchimp can recharged via USB (5 hours for a full charge), or a solar-slave same as the one bundled with the powermonkey eXplorer.  As with the Powermonkey, popular connector tips are bundled including: the Sony-Ericsson wide connector, Samsung E900, Mini USB (motorola V3 Razr/Krzr,etc), LG Chocolate, Nokia and Mini Nokia.  Additional connector tips are available for purchases.
Last but not least, the Powerchimp is powered by 2 x AA Ni-MH 1800mAh Powertraveller rechargeable batteries, which are also user replaceable.


Powergorilla
Moving up the genus in size, the Powergorilla aims to be the ultimate emergency charger.  Details are scarce at the moment, but the Powergorilla will recharge your laptop two and half times before the Powergorilla itself needs recharging!  The Powergorilla has a staggering 21000 mAh external battery which would be compatible for most digital gadgets under 24V.

The current list of compatible gadgets read like the who's who guide, including most laptops, all mobile phones, MP3/MP4 players, iPod, iPhone, digital cameras, game consoles, PDAs, two-way radios, Sat Phones, SatNav systems and other devices that utilise the USB port.

The Powergorilla features
  * high energy density lithium polymer rechargeable battery;
  * 5V / 16V / 19V / 24V multi output voltages;
  * 5V USB simultaneous charging with 16V / 19V or 24V;
  * output auto-Lock to ensure laptop safety;
  * no AC adapter neded as Powergorila can share laptop original power supply;
  * battery level display and low battery warning LCD display;
  * USB output auto wake-up and off.
 
Powergorilla specifications
  * Battery: Lithium Polymer 6 x 3500 mAh, 21000 mAh total
  * Weight: 700 g
  * Material: Aluminium housing with shock resistant rubber protection strips
  * Dimensions: 220 x 130 x 15 mm

Additionally the Powergorilla will have a companion called Solargorilla as a means of keeping it charged up ready to go.


With all the exciting developments from Powertraveller, it makes you want to swing from tree to tree and simply go ape! 

Stay tuned to DigitalReviews as we try to bring you the reviews as the gadgets become available.
   
The Powerchimp is available for pre-order now for about USD$50.00 from here.  Australian readers head over to helpful staff at Soundstuff  for AUD$60.  Powergorilla is due out in Q3/2008 and Solargorilla due in Q4/2008.