All right, so maybe some of the homebuilt solar-powered cars that we've shown here in the past aren't the best-looking contraptions. Give then this, though: they certainly are useful. The latest example was made by a California man named Brent Hatch, who decided enough was enough when he got a $700 gas bill. With seven kids to drive to school and back along with record-high gas prices, it's easy to see why Hatch was fed up. His solution centers around a four-wheeled, pedal-powered bike that has been equipped with three roof-mounted solar panels. These provide electricity to a small electric motor. Maintenance charges have also gone down considerably, with the only real wear item being the vehicle's sole rear tire, which is powered. Perhaps it's not the most elegant solution we've ever seen... but it's hard to argue that it gets the job done. Watch a video of the machine in action here.

[Source: CBS 2 via Engadget]

I'm wondering if my skills at assembling Ikea furniture will be useful for the SUNN. The SUNN is a solar electric car in a kit that can apparently be assembled in your garage in four or five days. The kit includes everything that you need except the batteries and solar panels which have to be locally sourced to save you a bundle on shipping. Solar panels and batteries are heavy and thus expensive to ship.

Don't expect Tesla-like performance, however. Sunn's maximum speed is rated at 25 mph. If used without solar panels, you will be able to drive for 20 miles. Plug-in the solar panels and you will get extra 3 miles from the hood and 14 from the roof panels. That's 34 miles.

According to the website, this can be classified as a NEV in the U. S., which makes it legal if you register it. The manufacturer supplies you with the Manufacturers Certificates of Origin for all of the major components. Full specs and video after the jump.

Wanna build a solar car? Good new for you, then! Nelson Kruschandl has set up a website where he gives you the ins and outs of solar car construction. Sure, there's plenty of power available from the sun, the tricky part is harnessing enough of it to get anywhere. Therefore, lightweight parts and low power consumption are the name of the game. The make the process as simple to understand as possible, Kruschandl has broken the design down into nine essential components:

1. Chassis and seating
2. Mechanics - suspension, steering, brakes
3. Motor and drive train
4. Motor controller
5. Solar Array - usually part of body
6. Batteries or fuel cells
7. Electrical System and instruments
8. Driver Controls - switches, lighting, etc
9. Bodywork - Screen, etc
   

That doesn't seem to hard, right? Just kidding, obviously, but the process set out in those nine steps makes for an entertaining read, so feel free to follow this link to check it out.

[Source: Bluebird Design via Automotive Blogs]

Remember last year when we posted the video Infinity Miles per Gallon? In that video, Art Haines of Applied Robotics Company set out to build a solar powered electric car ... and succeeded. At the time, we lauded the independent thinking that Haines clearly showed in the project. The story was far from over, however, as Haines is now offering his unique solar NEV in kit form from his website, sunnev.com. So far, five of the kits have been ordered and Haines is working to get them shipped out now. One of those kits, a sedan with a trunk, is headed to an all-girls school in London, and another, a pickup, is on its way to La Grange, Texas.

If you are interested in reading more about the SUNN EV, visit the official website. Pricing is currently broken down into major component packages and can be found here. After assembled, an MSO will allow the vehicle to be registered in your state and the vehicle would qualify as an NEV. We're pretty high on this idea and hope that these kits find happy owners who'll enjoy never filling up their city errand-runner.

[Source: SUNN EV, Morning Sentinel]

Solar-powered transportation owes a great deal to the participants of races and contests such as the World Solar Challenge in Australia. Starting in 1987, this biennial event covers a 3,000-kilometer route from tropical Darwin in the Northern Territory, to cosmopolitan Adelaide in South Australia. The challenge includes not only navigating the route, but involves a great deal of strategy as well, as teams must conserve energy while maintaining consistent speed. History shows that this can be a delicate balance.

Solar cars are not the only vehicles which will be on display for the event this year. Parallel contests involving electric and other alternatively-fueled cars will take place as well. We are showing you their official website before any news or media information is available, so you've got a head-start on following the race. It should be fun!

[Source: World Solar Challenge]