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I wouldn't put too much faith in anything ECD says... Forbes had a great article titled Repeat Pretender (reprinted here) about Stan Ovshinsky, the master con-man behind the company. A number of people have attempted and claimed a commercially viable roll-to-roll process for solar, but from what I can see the only company to actually produce modules with it is Iowa Thin Film Technologies.

NASA had a real cool solar powered plane. Helios RIP (shall rise again) was unmanned but could stay up for weeks.

Bertrand Piccard will be having a go at round the world solar powered flight. "...70-metre wingspan (larger than a Boeing 747)..."

Bertrand's the dude who just wouldn't give up and got around the world in a balloon in 1999.

What your missing is the obvious, hydrogen can be produced at your home. Search the net, you can find hydrogen manufacturing (cracking water for hydrogen) and low preasure storage for under $4K. Add in a high preasure pump to fill your vehicle, and you too can screw the government out of tax revenues from not buying gasoline at the pump while thumbing your nose at the Middle East.

For those of us who are in a area that can support alternative power generation, use that to power the hydrogen production equiptment. Personally, I plan to use solar cells to power such equiptment when Honda releases their consumer version of their FCX. Still worried about petrolium used to make hydrogen? Here is one possible option if NASA is correct: http://www.californiasolarcenter.org/solareclips/2 002.05/20020514-8.html

You mean like this one? The city of Riverside, CA installed solar panels over 140 new parking spaces at the La Sierra Metrolink station. So not only do commuters parked at the station get some shade, the solar panels power up to 100 nearby homes during the day.

With all the flat-topped commercial buildings and uncovered public parking in California, it's a wonder this isn't done all over. As a side effect, terrorists would have to carpet-bomb California to knock out significant production in that scenario.

A lot of the discussion has been around the production of the hydrogen for the fuel cells. An interesting side note: California Solar Center has a weekly new clipping service that, this week, has this article about scientists discovering huge, natural stores of H2 gas. From the article:

LONDON -- Scientists have discovered vast quantities of hydrogen gas, widely regarded as the most promising alternative to today's dwindling stocks of fossil fuels, lying beneath the Earth's crust.

The discovery has stunned energy experts, who believe that it could provide virtually limitless supplies of clean fuel for cars, homes and industry.

A lot of the discussion has been around the production of the hydrogen for the fuel cells. An interesting side note: California Solar Center has a weekly new clipping service that, this week, has this article about scientists discovering huge, natural stores of H2 gas. From the article:

LONDON -- Scientists have discovered vast quantities of hydrogen gas, widely regarded as the most promising alternative to today's dwindling stocks of fossil fuels, lying beneath the Earth's crust.

The discovery has stunned energy experts, who believe that it could provide virtually limitless supplies of clean fuel for cars, homes and industry.

A lot of the discussion has been around the production of the hydrogen for the fuel cells. An interesting side note: California Solar Center has a weekly new clipping service that, this week, has this article about scientists discovering huge, natural stores of H2 gas. From the article:

LONDON -- Scientists have discovered vast quantities of hydrogen gas, widely regarded as the most promising alternative to today's dwindling stocks of fossil fuels, lying beneath the Earth's crust.

The discovery has stunned energy experts, who believe that it could provide virtually limitless supplies of clean fuel for cars, homes and industry.

Many developing countries are in very sunny locations. Solar panels are really getting cheaper. For example, plastic solar cells that can be "painted" onto clothing are strong enough to power portable radios. I bet they'd be powerful enough to charge up that battery that runs the LEDs.

A very interesting read about solar is From Space to Earth, which discusses the use of and need for solar power in developing countries.

One thing that is clear is that power in rural areas is greatly needed for things like well pumps; powering reading lights is great, but it would be better used for true necessities. (though light becomes necessary when you need to fix that broken well pump...)

Many developing countries are in very sunny locations. Solar panels are really getting cheaper. For example, plastic solar cells that can be "painted" onto clothing are strong enough to power portable radios. I bet they'd be powerful enough to charge up that battery that runs the LEDs.

A very interesting read about solar is From Space to Earth, which discusses the use of and need for solar power in developing countries.

One thing that is clear is that power in rural areas is greatly needed for things like well pumps; powering reading lights is great, but it would be better used for true necessities. (though light becomes necessary when you need to fix that broken well pump...)