Alaskan citizen mistakes solar-powered car for UFO

The Xof1 does kind of look like the Land Speeder from Star Wars...

(Credit: Newlaunches.com)

I'm gonna file this one in the "Really?!" folder. Marcelo da Luz has been driving his Xof1 (short for "power of one") across North America in an attempt to set the world distance record for a solar-powered car.

When he reached Alaska earlier this week, a concerned citizen apparently thought the invasion had begun. The person spotted Marcelo diving around and promptly called 911 to report a UFO sighting.

Alaskan police quickly chased the Canadian solar pioneer down--the Xof1's max speed of 75 mph should have been their first clue as to what they were seeing--and after a quick interrogation, they promptly let him go.

This is actually the seventh time Marcel has been pulled over while driving this thing, according to Newlaunches.com. Why am I surprised by this? I don't know. I guess I just can't believe that someone mistook this obviously land-based vehicle for a flying saucer. Perhaps I need to get away from my sheltered, high-tech, green San Francisco life.

[lambinus]

The police did not mistake the auto for a space vehicle, the citizen reporting the siting did. You are as accurate (erroneous) as the news media when you get excited about something to write about.

[Leslie Katz]

You're right; the headline was misleading. Not the fault of the writer, though, but of the editor. Fixed. Thanks.

[c13453]

I think the driver of the solar car (or an accomplice) called 911 himself to get media attention.

[roccostarz]

Betcha Gov Palin sent in the Alaskin troops for this one when she got wind of it...

[pc1980]

Alaska's citizens are not known for their intelligence. They elected Palin to represent them so thats as good as they get.

[dkriss]

They are smarter than the rest of the states. They elected Obama.