That's why Bexar County intends to lead its community of 1.4 million residents to a cleaner, cheaper and locally based energy source: the sun!  We have an inventor and entrepreneur right here in Bexar County who is designing perhaps the nation's only solar-electric vehicle!  This "concept car" will make our only reason to stop at a filling station that of checking tire pressure and convenience shopping.  In addition, it will lead us to freedom from our present dependency on sources of energy that are distant, uncertain, expensive and hostile!

Kent Farmer, owner of the Power Store located at 930 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas has recently developed a Solar-Electric Car.  The Power Store specializes in solar specialty products, renewable energy devices and maintains a proprietary "stealth laboratory" that conducts energy research and develops new products based on solar energy for his company and others.  Mr. Farmer, a former Government Research Scientist, has worked for Southwest Research Institute as a Principal Engineer.  The Solar-Electric Car he has developed started out as an all-electric vehicle Ford began to build and then cancelled.

At first sight, the vehicle looks somewhat like a golf cart, but upon closer inspection you realize that it is much more.  It has a glass windshield, a Texas auto license and inspection sticker, 4-wheel independent suspension, rack and pinion steering, headlights, turn signals, brake lights and seating for four – it's a CAR!  Kent has made several electromechanical modifications to increase its speed and range – but the most significant change he has made is solar powering it. 

He has designed a portable solar array that is mounted above the roof powering it.  He has designed a portable solar array that is mounted above the roof canopy, thus allowing it to charge up while driving and while parked – he estimates that it will take about 3-4 hours to fully charge the battery bank from a total discharge.

Additionally, he has designed a stationary solar array that serves as a "base camp" fast charger.  This solar charger will charge the batteries in about 1-2 hours.  This car is designed for local short trips, is silent, emission-free and runs totally on solar energy – just park it in the sunlight and it "fills up" automatically! 

Kent points out that this car is not really meant to be mass produced, it is at present, a demonstration of technology that is currently available and should be thought of as a "concept car" that has serious potential for reducing pollution and eliminating our need for foreign oil.  It is notable that this concept car has received NO funding or support from any Local, State or Federal agency – it was totally conceived and funded by The Power Store.  Kent further stated that this should serve as an example of what can be done if you have the vision and determination to make it happen.  Next, we need to identify venture capitalists, expand on this idea and make it happen on a larger scale.

-30-