Stock Photo - Oct. 18, 1976 - The 'Ugly Duckling' Makes its Debut - The World's First Civilian Car Partially Powered by Solar Energy: A two-seater car known as they 'Ugly Duckling' made automotive history by becoming the world's first civilian car partially powered 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 each 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 60 kms. The increase in range is considered a major break-through, since one of the principal handicaps of the city car had been that it would barely cover the average suburbanite's travels to and from work. The idea is to park the car in the sun. Photo shows Professor Arye Braunstein cleaning one of the two silicone solar cell panels before going for a spin in Tel-Aviv Israel. (Credit Image: © Keystone Press Agency/Keystone USA via ZUMAPRESS.com)