New Solar Car ‘Sikat’ on a Nationwide Tour
The Philippines’ second solar car, Sikat, kicked off last January 12 for a 50-day tour across the country in a historic inaugural run. The road show is aimed at promoting the use of solar energy and preparing the team for the 2011 World Solar Car Challenge in Australia.
The tour will begin and end at the De La Salle University-Manila (DLSU) grounds, where Sikat and its predecessor, Sinag, were designed and built by Lasallian engineering students and faculty members.
It may be recalled that DLSU launched Sinag, the first Philippine solar car, in which it finished 12th among 40 entries in 2007 World Solar Car Challenge.
From DLSU, Sikat will proceed to the Technological University of the Philippines in Manila and 26 other universities and malls in key cities across the country. The car will be featured in exhibitions in all its stops, which include SM Cagayan de Oro, MSU-IIT in Iligan and University of Mindanao. The tour stops will include activities that will allow the public to get to know Sikat and the solar car project more intimately.
In February, the solar wonder is set to complete its route across the Philippines, stopping at universities in Cebu, Bacolod, and Iloilo City in the Visayas, as well as Batangas, Angeles City, San Fernando and Laoag in Luzon. During weekends of the tour, Sikat will be on public display at various SM malls across the country.
The solar car’s improved design features new generation sun power cells and a sleeker, more maneuverable and aerodynamic design. The car’s top surface is encapsulated with solar cells provided by Sunpower, a company that provides the highest-efficiency solar cells in the world. The solar cells are manufactured in Laguna where hundreds of thousands of cells are exported to other countries.
Sikat’s body is made of lightweight carbon fiber found in current F1 car models like that of Sinag. At 190 kg, Sikat is lighter by 100 kilograms and can outrun Sinag’s top speed of 112 kph.
Sikat can be driven at night, on its batteries, for eight straight hours. The car’s side mirrors are video cameras that show the car’s side and back views in screens in the cockpit. According to the Philippines Solar Car Society (PSCS) news release, the Philippines has a huge potential for tapping solar technology that is one of the cleanest known methods of energy production.
In a statement, Dean Pag-Asa Gaspillo of DLSU said Sikat is sleeker, faster and lighter than Sinag, an improvement that clearly demonstrates the increasing capability of the Philippines to lead in solar technology.
“As Sikat highlights our ingenuity, our will to lead, our capability for technology, and our commitment to the use of clean, renewable energy, Sikat also will be a source of great pride for the Philippines,” said Ramon Agustines, Motolite CEO and PSCS (Philippine Solar Car Society) Chairman, about the group’s initiatives.
After the tour, Sikat will prepare to compete in 2011’s World Solar Challenge
From Internet Research and with reports from Manila Bulletin (mb.com.ph)
A native of Cavinti, Lucila C. Oblena spent all her working years as an educator, beginning as a classroom teacher in 1944, then a Guidance Counselor and retired as a school Principal. She is also the founder of CLOTA (Cavinti Laguna Overseas Teachers Association). She is the Editor of Tipakan.com (Cavinti Diaspora).
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