Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!ginosko!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!wordy
From: wordy@cup.portal.com (Steven K Roberts)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Electric cars?  Start with wheelchairs.
Message-ID: <21503@cup.portal.com>
Date: 21 Aug 89 21:44:55 GMT
References: <3659@internal.Apple.COM> <5481@ttidca.TTI.COM>
  <3706@internal.Apple.COM>
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 14

I can't help but wonder why nobody ever mentions solar power in 
discussions like this.  The Solarex SX-LITE panels weigh about 2
pounds and put out 18 watts, at a retail cost of $175 or so.  Admittedly
this is not cheap, but that's 1.2 amps per panel of charge
current (they're scaled for direct connection to 12V batteries,
and can be series-connected for 24).  Application is trivial...
sunlight in, two wires out.  Add a schottky to prevent dark discharge
and you're done, unless the panels are substantially more robust
than the batteries, in which case a controller is required.  
  Solarex is at 800-521-SOLA and a Bay Area distributor is Energy 
Depot at 415-499-1333 in San Rafael.
   Cheers...
  Steven K. Roberts
  Nomadic Research Labs