Early Solar-Powered Car

A 1912 Baker Electric car that was retrofitted with a solar panel by Charles Escoffery for the International Rectifier Corp. back in 1960. The panel cost $20,000. (I don't know what that would be in present-day money, but it wouldn't be cheap.) With the panel, the Baker could run at 20 mph for three hours. International Rectifier hoped to soon be churning out "noiseless, smogless" solar cars for $5000 each. It's 53 years later now, and we're still waiting. Source: Newsweek (Mar 7, 1960) & M3GA.

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Sat Feb 16, 2013
Category: Inventions | 1960s | Cars

Comments

I'm still looking for someone to create a Steam - Electric Hybrid car.
- Steam take time to build up pressure, but it is more efficient than a gas motor. (And other pluses).
- Electric is instant, but lacks the range.

Posted by BMN on 02/16/13 at 04:00 PM

As long as big oil keeps buying the ideas and shelving them nothing else will get far enough evolved to compete.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 02/16/13 at 09:38 PM

Two or three more trillion thrown into the industry should do the trick! In fact, I've just purchased an empty warehouse that could use a few billion to get it into shape. I'll even hire some people, I promise!

shhh... and I'll make a big contrabution

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 02/17/13 at 12:24 AM

Solar powered cars are earth-friendly. It needs a little energy to use it for travel. Thanks for sharing ideas!

Posted by Billy Zane on 08/29/13 at 04:30 AM

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