Happy Camper Bus
The true Hybrid
Happy Camperbus 2008-04-24 18:34:15 UTC

Passing through Malibu, California on our second day of traveling, we had the pleasure of crossing paths with Richard. Richard is driving a Solar Assist Vehicle Energy System (a phrase coined by him). He is a very talkative fellow and is very passionate about the benefits and alternative uses that solar energy presents. He was more that happy to give us a tutorial about his mission and was pleased that we would be writing a bit about him on our blog.

Richard shared with us that he was a techie in the ’70’s for Ford Aerospace, which is what sparked his interest in energy, though he believes in his own methods and he has invented devises that he believes to be superior to anything rendered by a cooperation. He referred to his van as ‘The True Hybrid’ claiming that his gas consumption was reduced by %30 due to solar assisted power hence, emissions are down by %30 as well. He demonstrated for us a device of his own, it was a modified voltage meter with a mini-solar panel affixed to the top. It sported some other custom do-dads that reach far over my head. Anyhow, it served the purpose of measuring the amount of solar energy, accurate down to a tenth of a volt, when pointed in any direction toward or away from the Sun.

Richard is without a doubt living out of his van, has been for sometime, and is making the most of it. He has a television and VCR that runs off solar energy of course, and every square inch of the inside seemed personalized in some way.

He was very personable and he was both kind and concerned for our well-being. He showed Smick a bullet hole in the side of the van and stated that he was shot at by Pirates in the North, and in almost the next breath whole-heartedly offered us cookies, or anything else that we might need for the road. After we assured him we were all set, we passed around hearty handshakes and well-wishes.

I hope to pass Richard and his Solar Assist Vehicle Energy System again during our travels to see what he is up to next!