flying close to the sun

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's part of an F16 fighter jet that is now a solar car. I had a peek at the vehicles participating in the South African Solar Challenge, and this is one of them. Very sleek and very expensive, but it has technical problems and hasn't clocked any mileage on the journey from Johannesburg to Cape Town.

In contrast, the ugly duckling in the second picture is cheaper, and not so sexy - but it works. And it's made with parts you can buy (mostly) off the shelf in South Africa. Let's see who's left standing at the end of the South African tour.

Ultimately, despite appearances, this is not about powering cars directly from the sun; it's about squeezing efficiency out of solar panels and mechanical equipment. Nobody expects cars of the future to be kitted out with huge solar arrays, but exercises like this will help test components for more energy-efficient cars and other machinery. I'm rooting for the ugly duckling because it can show how to do more with less. And because I always cheer for the underdog.