Bikes & Cars...

The SUNN won't win any design awards, but it sure will turn heads.

This build-it-yourself solar-powered car -- invented by Art Haines -- is one of the most innovative ideas I've seen in years. For just $4,500, you get almost everything you need to build your own solar-powered, street legal, neighborhood electric car. The parts come delivered on a flatbed truck, and with just 80-120 hours and some everyday hand tools (plus the solar panels and batteries, which you are encouraged to order locally), you can soon be puttering around in your very own solar-powered vehicle.

The SUNN only goes 25 miles per hour, and it has a maximum range of just 20 miles, but if you're only going a short distance on local roads, this is a pretty cool alternative to gas-powered transportation. The kit comes with seat belts, windshield wpers and turn signals, so as long as you register it as a low-speed vehicle, you should be allowed to take it out on the town.

According to the SUNN's FAQs, the solar panels aren't included so you can decide how much you want to spend on them, where on the car you want to mount them, or even if you want to use them or not. If you skip the solar panels, the SUNN can also be plugged into a standard electrical outlet, with an estimated energy-cost-per-mile of just $.01.

Right now, the SUNN Electric Vehicle Company is just taking orders (and deposits) for their car kits, which will ship in the near future.