TIME Best Inventions 2006

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TRANSPORTATION INVENTIONS

E-MAIL

Sun Strokes
Late this month the sun21 catamaran will leave Seville, Spain, bound for Miami and then New York City just to prove that solar power can take you that far. The 46-ft. vessel has no sails or gas tank, only two electric motors that run on batteries charged by photovoltaic cells. By day, rooftop solar panels generate more power than the boat consumes. The extra energy is stored to keep things moving after sundown. How fast does it go? About 5 to 6 knots, same as most yachts. A Swiss crew of five will attempt the record-breaking five-month, 7,000-mile trip to spread the word about the wonders of renewable energy.

Inventor: MW-Line
Availability: One of a kind
To learn more visit transatlantic21.ch

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