Bikes & Cars...

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is outfitting its fleet of Ford Crown Victorias with solar power. The $37 panels are much smaller than the rooftop array found on, say, the 2010 Toyota Prius or the forthcoming Fisker Karma. The goal is to reduce the time that cops spend idling with the engine on by powering some of their gear with energy from the sun.

The panel is wired directly to the...