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Oct. 10, 1976 - The Ugly Duckling Makes Its Debut - The World's First Civilian Car Partially Powered By Solar Energy: A two -seater car known as the Ugly Duckling made automotive history by becoming the world's first civilian car partially pwored by solar energy. Professor Arye Braunstein, head of the Power Engineering Department of Tel Aviv University demonstrated the Ugly Duckling, which was converted from a regular electric battery-powered vehicle into a mixed-fuel vehicle. Its batteries get one quarter to one-third of their energy from two silicone solar cell panels covering the roof and the front part of the vehicle, where every other self-respecting automobile would have had its engine and radiator. The output of the solar panels 16 modules of 36 cells ech amounts to about 1 kwh - adding at least 25 percent to the range of the car. The duckling was made from a city car which costs 2, 500 dollars and has a range of 60kms. The increase in range id considered a major break-through. since one of the principal handicaps of the city had been that it would barely cover the average auburbanite's travels to and from work. The idea is to park the car in the sun. Photo Shows: The interior view of the Ugly Duckling which was tested out in Tel-Aviv

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Adding Amounts Arye Automotive Average Aviv Barely Batteries Battery-powered Becoming Braunstein Break-through Cells Considered Converted Costs Debut Demonstrated Dollars Duckling Handicaps Idea Increase Least Modules One-third Output Panels Partially Percent Radiator Regular Self-respecting Silicone Solar Tel-aviv Tested Ugly

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