On a recent flight, he hooked his panel up to the plane window to charge his daughter's iPod.

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The 787 is the first Boeing plane to use lithium ion batteries, which charge faster and can be molded to space-saving shapes compared to other airplane batteries.

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Lithium ion batteries keep a charge longer than nickel cadmium and weigh less, so the plane can save fuel.

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The plane is powered by about 12, 000 photovoltaic cells that cover massive wings and charge its batteries.

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