Philippines unveils solar car

by Patrick Everett Tadeo 17 Dec 2009

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

SIKAT Roadshow

January 2010
12 - De La Salle University, Manila
13 - Technological University of the Philippines, Manila
14 - Reserved for the Department of Education (Makati Science High School)
15 - Reserved for the Department of Education (Quezon City Science High School)
16 to 17 - SM North
18 - Mapua Institute of Technology, Manila
23 to 24 - SM Davao
25 - Ateneo de Davao University
26 - University of Mindanao
29 - Mindanao State University (Iligan Institute of Technology)
31 - SM Cagayan de Oro

February 2010
1 - Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City
2 - University of San Carlos, Cebu City
3 - SM Cebu
6 to 7 - SM Bacolod
8 - University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City
10 - Central Philippine University, Iloilo City
11 - UP Visayas School of Technology, Iloilo City
12 - SM Iloilo
15 - SM Batangas
16 - Batangas State University, Batangas City
18 - Angeles University Foundation, Angeles City
19 - Holy Angel University, Angeles City
20 - SM Pampanga
23 - Northwestern University, Laoag City

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COMMENTS

• art2377 says go go Philippines (17 December 2009)
• Tsikot says Does the Solar Car work on mountainous regions like Baguio City? (17 December 2009)
• bert says yes! light weight solar car needs less energy to propel, and electric motors have high torque so slopes wont be much of a trouble (18 December 2009)
• Tsikot says Will the Solar Car work well during rainy season worst when there is typhoon? (19 December 2009)
• Ricky Paragas says ayos toh...magandang gamitin kapag gabi ito..haha lol (19 December 2009)
• patutz_21 says kala q mapuan ngdesign, hehehe. . . sayang d ata sumali sa eco marathon ang dlsu (21 December 2009)
• powerlogic says hmm.... go philipines! hmm.. uu nga panu mu yan gagamitin kung umuulan? (21 December 2009)
• m0nk says go philippines!!!!!!! If only the philippines has its own automobile industry.... (25 December 2009)
• tsktsk says guys have you seen the myth buster episode in discovery channel where they test a dimpled car over a smooth car to see who has less drag? the dimple car won. the dimpled car sliced through the air more efficiently, it is the same principle as with golf balls... it may not be a beauty but if was a lot more efficient... (26 December 2009)
• emmgon says yes...the solar car can work during rainy seasons... except that it will have less energy to run longer... im sure this car is waterproof... this model has a very low drag constant as compared to Sinag... (28 December 2009)
• Sikat ang Pinoy says Go pinoy!!! astig! solar powered car! iba talaga ang sikat! (13 January 2010)
• Blogs that I blogged says Galing ng Sikat Solar Car! Sana pumasok sa top 5 ang Pilipinas sa darating na 2011 World Solar Challenge. =) (09 February 2010)
• ~ RAVE ~ Jeric says dapat sana kulay yellow (26 February 2010)