California man builds his own solar-electric vehicle
By Darren Murph 
posted April 26th 2008 2:37PM
posted April 26th 2008 2:37PM
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]
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?
It's a vagina..not a clown car, dammit.
Very streamlined for high-speed. If a strong gust of wind comes along, he's toast.
How can you fit 7 kids and 2 adults in it?
cmon.... seven kids isnt that bad! my neighbor's family has 14!!!!!!!!!!
ha is that guy mormon? cuz 7 kids is alot.....
~
There once was a horn-dog named 'Brady'
Who had *seven* kids with his lady
Now he buses this Bunch
With a solar-packed punch
Well, except when it's night or it's shady...
~
Bless you sir, bless you.
Spirit and Opportunity would be proud!
I think its an interesting idea, I don't think the designer had any real interest in making this vehicle fashionable. The guy shouldn't be ridiculed because it looks ugly. Least he's got it out there and I'm sure someone could improve on it.
The are two main reasons for an automobile:
- To get your ass from point A to point B
- To be a status symbol for the type of person you are (luxury for the rich, fast for the young and stupid)
His device gets the 1st one done, and saves him money - mass produce it and we'll all just use them to get around town and stick it to the oil companies
Simple
Yes, seven kids is a lot. You save a lot though if you don't educate them all. My grandma had 8 kids (it would have been 10 but the twins died in infancy) and they all survived to adulthood to breed their own (except for the youngest daughter of my grandma who is living on her own trying to come to terms with what happened.)
You save money if you don't send them all to school. Educate the three eldest, then let the four others help out at home. Let them learn organic farming. Then when the three already have established themselves and can afford it, send the four remaining siblings to distance learning school via the Internet or correspondence courses. Or train them as professional organic farmers.
I think this 7-kid family would save more by investing in garden soil and growing their own food first. Of course, that would make them the laughing stock of Pasadena, but it seems they already are the laughing stock of the Internet. If they get really good at organic farming, they can make it a family business - then use Daddy's invention to hawk around their home-grown vegetables.
This could be the start of something big....
"This could be the start of something big...."
That's what she said.
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