Now it's time to surf through your profile, adding whatever information you think is fun (click the pencil-shaped "edit profile" icon on the upper right). Right now, solar energy still has some difficulty competing with the utilities, but costs are coming down as research improves the technology. Concentrating photovoltaic technology is another promising field of development. All these different versions of solar panel technology have companies dreaming up applications and products that run the gamut, from solar powered planes and space-based power stations to more everyday items like PV-powered curtains, clothes and laptop cases. Instead of simply collecting and converting a portion of whatever sunlight just happens to shine down and be converted into electricity, concentrating PV systems use the addition of optical equipment like lenses and mirrors to focus greater amounts of solar energy onto highly efficient solar panels. For a specialty model, first year sales could be considered a success: 6429 standard Rancheros and 15,277 Customs, this in addition to total 1957 Ford passenger car production of 1,676,449 units.