When i read that article in the Boston Globe this morning, I was surprised to learn that we're working on solar vehicles at the Media Lab. Oh really - who? (And you know that energy and vehicle research just isn't practical...).

From a July 2006 race in Texas. These vehicles, built by high school students, average 75 MPH:

The good and different things about them are: They're easy to build. they use stock panels, which are cheaper and less time-consuming than assembling individual cells. they don't use hard to work with fiberglass frames. They're easy to get in and out of. They're painted cool. They look like they could have space to carry stuff or a second passenger.