California man builds his own solar-electric vehicle

Although Brent Hatch's homegrown solar-electric whip looks eerily similar (read: just as ugly) to the SUNN solar car kit, this one was actually created without the help of any pre-packaged parts or sophisticated schematics. After his gas bill rose well over $700 a month (he and his wife have seven kids, after all), he decided to purchase a rather unsightly eight-seater bicycle and figure out a way to enable roof-mounted solar panels to power an electric motor. Nah, the top speed isn't very impressive, and you certainly wouldn't want to head out on I-5 with it, but it sure makes picking up the offspring from their nearby school a whole lot less painful on the wallet. Check out the video in the read link for more.

[Thanks, Dave]

[deyanimay @ Apr 26th 2008 2:46PM]

I'd be embarrassed to get picked up from school in that.

[Rik @ Apr 26th 2008 2:51PM]

That's OK - I'd be embarrassed to have you as my kid

[deyanimay @ Apr 26th 2008 2:53PM]

Personally i don't care what you think of me I'm just stating my opinion on the article. Your probably just pissed that i posted before you could post "FIRST COMMENT."

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 26th 2008 3:24PM]

Hang on Rik, let me get this straight, you wouldn't be embarressed being picked up in that?

I hope I don't have the same fashion sense as you...

[Rik Feilden @ Apr 26th 2008 3:56PM]

Less than I would being picked up in some gas guzzling humvee or other ludicrous planet killer

[Gus @ Apr 26th 2008 4:55PM]

It's OK to kill the Earth as long as it's fashionable. Duh. *rolls eyes*

[ethana2 @ Apr 26th 2008 6:42PM]

So basically, slap a big Apple logo on it, right?

[deyanimay @ Apr 26th 2008 7:42PM]

there are better energy efficient ways of transportation that a huge electric bike. For instance take the bus.

[Zach S @ Apr 27th 2008 6:29PM]

Personally, I'd find it mad cool to go driving in that jalopy- sure, it may be sorta weird lookin, but think about how much fun it would be! (as long as it doesn't rain or something)

[peshue @ Apr 26th 2008 3:02PM]

That's pretty impressive. I think I do just fine with my bike though, no batteries involved.

[patriotsn1 @ Apr 26th 2008 3:04PM]

You have 7 kid and a wife and you do just fine with your bike? wow... Must have some monster huge pegs on that sweet sweet machine.

[peshue @ Apr 26th 2008 3:16PM]

Yup, it's like a human pyramid going down the street.

[John @ Apr 26th 2008 6:20PM]

To have 7 kids and still have a wife, you BETTER have a monster huge peg!

Wait, what were we talking about?

[HyperHacker @ Apr 26th 2008 6:27PM]

3x3-seater bike, anyone? ;-)

[Ayman @ Apr 26th 2008 3:03PM]

SEVEN KIDS

[ethana2 @ Apr 26th 2008 6:39PM]

I've been places where the average family size is like 10, with one or two families of 13 children.
..but I draw the line at 4. 4 kids, you're done, imo ;)
...they couldn't go all chinese about that, but they could certainly work it into tax law.

[Bosco @ Apr 27th 2008 3:20PM]

Retroactive abortion is an option, you know.

[Andrew @ Apr 26th 2008 3:06PM]

calm it down ladies.

[John @ Apr 26th 2008 3:11PM]

Woah, flashback to Honey I Shrunk the Kids.

[BigD145 @ Apr 26th 2008 3:20PM]

Eliminating children would prove to be much more efficient at lowering bills AND lowering your carbon footprint.

[doudOSX @ Apr 26th 2008 3:38PM]

ha-ha chicken......i resent your comment...MICROSOFT FLAME WAR....ohh so there's no Microsoft involved ....yessssss

[paul-engadget @ Apr 26th 2008 4:14PM]

well, if we humans continue to overrun the planet causing sufficient environmental damage most of the population will die, maybe all of us. in a few thousand years the plant will return to normal and have forgotten all about us.

[Chuckles McGee @ Apr 26th 2008 5:06PM]

Perhaps a solar-electric child remover would be more effective?

[Abuzar @ Apr 26th 2008 6:00PM]

OR maybe Allah will decide it's the Day of Judgment and time to end the Earth.


Just throwin' it out there. Not forcing it on anybody before you work yourself up in a fit.

[Draaaainage! @ Apr 26th 2008 8:01PM]

Allah will do what Jesus tells him to!

[pavelbure @ Apr 26th 2008 8:05PM]

eliminating you would lower the carbon footprint too. why won't you do that instead ?

[Cardbored @ Apr 26th 2008 3:37PM]

2 out the last 3 stories have been from CBS2... hmmm....

[Tsaot @ Apr 26th 2008 4:10PM]

So when do we see the instructable for this?

[roman.kim @ Apr 26th 2008 4:42PM]

It' looks too tall and narrow, so the center of gravity is quite high. And your knees are the crumple zones, but I guess safety isn't really a problem because you're never going fast enough to have a crash..

[Shaun @ Apr 26th 2008 5:00PM]

Just because you top out at 25 mph doesn't stop someone else from hitting you doing 60. I guess it's no more dangerous than riding a bicycle.

[LarryLarryLarry @ Apr 27th 2008 5:53AM]

If any of his kids are injured or worse in this thing, Dad is going to burn in a very special part of Hell.

Penny-wise, pound-foolish.

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Apr 26th 2008 4:50PM]

But, will it blend?

[HyperHacker @ Apr 26th 2008 6:28PM]

Or play Doom?

[andres @ Apr 27th 2008 12:19AM]

but will you shut up with your doom comments

[Gaz @ Apr 27th 2008 5:21AM]

So someone somewhere thought "Solar powered car that plays doom"...ermm yesssss

[danny chan @ Apr 26th 2008 5:44PM]

i wouldve just bought a old golf cart, wired up some solar panels on the roof and call it a day

[sinjinn @ Apr 27th 2008 1:14AM]

dont think thatd work unless you modified it . most of the power seemsd to coming from thier peddling.

[gabe @ Apr 26th 2008 5:55PM]

these parents need to stop fucking.

[ethana2 @ Apr 26th 2008 6:41PM]

It's called sterilization.

Your proposed solution isn't feasible.

[kicks @ Apr 26th 2008 6:19PM]

I think its rather cute... (don't kill me people!!!)
But if I made it I would have it haptic feedback, GPS, 3G, bigger LED backlit Screen, glossy black from top to bottom, non-removable battery... etc... just like the 'new' iphone... then I would get Steve Jobs to ride it and make him see how 'fun' and 'useful' it is.

[smilgy @ Apr 26th 2008 6:26PM]

they don't have much money...

[pball_inuyasha @ Apr 26th 2008 7:15PM]

they should now
they went from 700 a month to 18 every two months was it for a new tire
granted they must still use the car now and then

[Ian @ Apr 26th 2008 9:40PM]

jesus dude, u are so stupid. we get it u hate apple, i dont care go ahead and keep hating it. but dont bring it up when the story has NOTHING to do with apple. when it comes up go right ahead. its people like you that make me sick

[kicks @ Apr 27th 2008 12:30PM]

geez ian... just meant as a light joke dude... you don't strike me as being a particularly big apple fan, but i take your point... sorry if i offended you THAT much...

[Ian @ Apr 30th 2008 4:36AM]

im just sick of people bring up topics that dont apply to the subject on hand, especially the whole apple thing.

[HyperHacker @ Apr 26th 2008 6:56PM]

I have to post a comment to log in, I guess. And submit it twice for it to appear.

The first thing that comes to mind is "damn lucky Southerners being able to drive things like that." Here in midwest Alberta that thing would be useful maybe 6 weeks a year, the rest of the time it'd be too damn cold.

That being said, if I lived in California, I'd love to have one... but I'd put some panels or something on it to make it less ugly. :-p Functionality > beauty, sure, but appearance is still important.

[Cindy Townsend @ Apr 26th 2008 8:29PM]

These people live in my city, I see them all over town in this thing. They are trying to maintain their popularity after the "No Cussing Club" thing (Dr. Phil). These people make me sick and he uses this piece of crap to shamelessly self promote the fact that he is a real estate agent, an auto detailer, a dentist, a painter, an author, and motivational speaker. That is no joke. I have never thought being green could be so obnoxious.

[The Dude @ Apr 26th 2008 11:53PM]

He sounds like a Jack of all Trades/Master of None thrown in with a mix of Ned Flanders. Bad times. I feel sorry for South Pasadena.

What would have been more green would have been using a condom. Or at the very least the tried-and-true pull out. Seriously. He wouldn't need to be paying $700 for gas if he didn't have to transport so many kids. Interestingly enough his wife's name "Phelecia" reminded me of "phallus." A self-fulfilling prophecy? But I digress.

[johnzilla @ Apr 26th 2008 9:21PM]

Seven kids?? Don't they have a TV?

[AMFS @ Apr 26th 2008 9:35PM]

I'm sorry, but am I the only one who watched the video? One if them is named "Phelecia Hatch" Anybody else find that a hilarious?