Have you ever been biking through the back roads and needed to make a quick call? Maybe you’ve got a flat tire, or simply want to call a friend. But, as you pull out yourcellphone, you’re bummed to find its battery is dead. Fear not…

Two university students in India have developed a somewhat peculiar solution. We’re not talking about solar notebook paper or solar surfboards. No, this time we’re talking about a bike helmet that doubles as a cell-phone charger.

Pragnesh Dudhaiya and Aalok Bhatt — electrical engineering students at Nirma University, in western India — wanted to contribute to their school’s “green festival.” After three days’ work, they had created a biking helmet equipped with solar panels and, to boot, a small wind generator. In full sun, the helmet allegedly has enough oomph to charge a cellphone in about 40 minutes. The tiny wind turbine, of course, puts out a small amount of power when you’re whizzing along, the wind in your face.

For $23, the panels and helmet that make up this prototype could be yours. But if you’re looking to do it yourself, you may want to act fast: Dudhaiya and Bhatt are planning to patent their invention.

News of the students’ invention was first relayed by the Bangalore Mirror. The story has since been covered by the likes of SlashGear, GizmoWatch, SiliconIndia and TreeHugger. (And, now, GetSolar.)