Everyone’s doing it, even blood mobiles. Redlands-based American Custom Coach unveiled the ‘first solar-powered bloodmobile in the country’. Community Blood Bank of Palm Springs designed the vehicle using 3D computer models. The vehicle has solar panels that will help cut electricity consumption by 50 percent and was built on a crew-cab truck chassis and has side walls that slide out, like a motorhome. The bloodmobile's wireless computer system, appliances, refrigerators and lights will run off solar power. The blood bank staff has estimated that they could collect 10 units of blood an hour in the new vehicle.

Image for representational purpose only

The vehicle cost $243,000 and was paid for entirely by donations.

[Sbsun]