Philippines unveils solar car
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The Philippines stands a chance at landing on the top five spot in the 2011 World Solar Challenge as the Philippine Solar Car Society goes on full-speed in further developing the solar car, SIKAT.
SIKAT comes with a monocoque shell made entirely in carbon fiber, much like today's lightweight yet strong F1 cars. It comes with a front wheel and two rear wheels with lightweight 400-gram aluminum caliper brakes from Brembo.
SIKAT gets energy through Laguna-made Sunpower solar cells, which produce 3.3 watts of electric power. These solar cells are more efficient compared with the ones used on SINAG, which finished 12th in the 2005 Solar Challenge.
Solar Car Society chairman Isidro Marfori is optimistic SIKAT will do better as the team has more time to prepare prior to the biennial race.
"The third-place winner for this year's race was running at an average speed of 80kph. Right now, SIKAT can already run that speed on average so we're hoping that we can break into the top five in 2011,' said Marfori.
Design work on SIKAT started in January while construction commenced in June. Aside from completing the technical specs of SIKAT, the Solar Car Society is also putting the car on exhibit to spread solar energy awareness.
SIKAT is produced through the partnership between De La Salle University - Manila, Ford Group Philippines, Motolite, Pilipinas Shell, SunPower, Adphoto, Air21, Alternergy, MTV Philippines, SM Supermalls, Tan Yan Kee Foundation, U-Freight, and WWF.
Click "next" to see the schedule of SIKAT's roadshow around the Philippines
