The big picture [Solar Scooter]

When you think of the centers of futuristic automotive design, Afghanistan probably doesn´t come to mind. But motorcycle mechanic Mustafa Muhammadi designed and built this enclosed two-seater motorbike in about six weeks, using car tires and motorcycle parts. He showed off his handiwork???which he says cost 90,000 afghanis (roughly US $1,600) to get on the road???in Kabul in December. What sets the three-wheeler apart is that it´s all electric. A solar panel on its roof supplements the energy in the plug-in vehicle´s batteries, extending its range to 40 kilometers on a single charge. And just in case the trike does run out of juice, Muhammadi included pedals so that it can run on human power until it reaches a charging station.