RP hopeful. Scale model of Sinag—Philippine entry to the 2007 World Solar Challenge. NONIE REYES

THE Philippines is set to plunge into an innovative international car challenge that could mean a lot in its continuing search for an alternative source of power and energy.

Ford Group Philippines (FGP) together with students from De la Salle University-Manila and a company that provides a very promising solar technology is joining this year’s Panasonic World Solar Challenge to be held from October 21 to 28 in Australia.

The team, which will represent the country, is joining the biennial event for the first time and aims to “pursue the ideals of sustainable transport in the future.” The 3,021-km challenge from Darwin to Adelaide showcases various solar cars designed and made from all over the world.

On January 27, Sinag, the first Philipine solar car, was inaugurated in an elaborate presentation at the Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City attended by US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, DLSU-Manila executive president Dr. Carmelita Quebengco and representatives of various organizations that helped in the realization of the project.

Henry Co, FGP chairman, welcomed the participants and led in the introduction of the car. He said that the “main objective of the project is not to create a commercial solar car per se.”

Co elaborated, “A truly commercially viable solar car is not anywhere in the immediate horizon. We will see many different kinds of alternative-fuel cars like flexible-fuel cars, hybrids and hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles before a commercial solar car becomes a reality. It is also not our primary objective to be the fastest car or to be the first in the finish line at the World Solar Challenge. Our objective is very simple and very humble. If we are to build the solar car, participate in the World Solar Challenge and finish the 3000 kms from Darwin to Adelaide, I would rate this project an outstanding success. The World Solar Challenge is not a race in the normal sense of the word.

That is why it is called a challenge and not a race. It is not about speed. It is about commitment…it is about teamwork, creativity and innovation. It is about taking up the challenge of sustainable clean energy. It is the thinking man’s version of the Grand Prix.”

Co added that by building the car and participating in the event, they hope to achieve a number of things such as promoting the Filipino capability to tap solar power, raise public awareness, encourage academic research and development on its practical uses, and raise the interest of the youth in an engineering career.

“To promote the image of the Philippines and the capability of the Filipino and to show the fact that sun power in the Philippines produces the most powerful, commercially viable solar cells in the world today is something that very few people know.  We also need to raise public awareness, especially of the youth, on the potential of solar energy as the ultimate clean energy. Yes, we do not have oil but we have lots of solar energy. With the cost of power and amount of sunlight we have I cannot help but wonder why we keep using electric and not more solar water heater in our homes,” he added.

Co also said that there is a need “to encourage academic research and development on the practical applications of solar energy in the country. Our engineers need to build up the confidence that we can be at par with the best in the world. We may not have the financial muscle but we have the intellectual capital. If we really focus on one thing like solar energy, we may just one day have the chance to become the best in the world. And last is to raise the interest of the youth in an engineering career. Our growing export capability in manufacturing, especially the semiconductor industry, cannot be sustained if we do not continue to nurture more engineers.”

Aside from FGP, the other companies that have pledged their support are San Miguel Corp., Shell, Sunpower, Philippine Airlines, Ventus, J. Walter Thompson, CreAsia, Tuason Racing School, Cabrera, Lavandia & Associates, and Aurora.

Sinag is described as a pair of wings on wheels with a solar cell-covered top surface of a little over six meters in size and is made up of carbon fiber and nomex (aramid fiber) in order to keep it lighter at 50 kgs in order to achieve a higher running speed. La Salle faculty members who are working on the project include Engrs. Rene Fernandez, Martin Ernesto Kalaw, Anthony Escobar, Jose Antonio Catalan and Isidro Marfori III.

The car will use solar cells from Sunpower, considered as most efficient in the world and are proudly Philippine-made. Sunpower’s solar cells have a rated power value of 3.1 watts and are able to capture more sunlight and convert it into energy. Since Sunpower’s solar cells are more efficient relative to conventional solar cells, they can be assembled into panels that can generate more power and incorporated into a given size package.

The World Solar Challenge, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has already attracted 200 solar car participants from around the globe over the last 20 years.

Started and created by Danish adventurer and known fuel economy expert Hans Tholsturf in 1987, the Challenge “motivates research and development into harnessing solar energy for future transport needs for many years.” Tholsturf is the same person who circumnavigated Australia in a 16-foot open boat several years back. He also championed the holding of economy runs all over the world and inspired “how fast you can go on a liter of petrol.”

The first World Solar Challenge was staged in 1987, with a field of 23 fantastic cars led by the GM Sunraycer which completed the trip with an average speed of 67 kph.

The goal of finishing the Challenge in four days was realized in 1996, when Honda repeated their performance with another stunning win, and a record average speed of 89.76 kph.

Following the 1996 event, Tholsturf sold the event to the State of South Australia, which announced an event in 1998. But it was only in 1999, under the leadership of Chris Selwood, that the event resumed and 43 teams from 14 countries participated.

A commitment to support the International Solar Energy Society World Congress in 2001 saw the event restaged once more, with new records set. 2001 also saw the introduction of the “Demonstration Class” which was designed to showcase vehicles exhibiting practical technology that has evolved from the World Solar Challenge.

In 2005, Panasonic entered as a major corporate sponsor of the event.

THERE is a saying that to whom much is given, much is required. In the automotive world, that is especially true with locally available luxury car brands (e.g., BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, Audi, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Ferrari and Maserati), considering the high admission price of each and every vehicle under the aforementioned marques.

AS we finished writing that column on the MRT, news came out the next day that the government had just placed an order for several more coaches to accommodate the ever-growing number of daily commuters.

WHEN the BMW X3 was launched in 2003, the sports activity vehicle (SAV) got a lot of flak from reviews here and abroad. The chief complaints of economy-grade interior treatments, lack of power, harsh ride qualities and a relatively high asking price contributed greatly to its low sales volume. In order to boost sagging SAV sales, BMW recently launched the 2007 X3, with the hope that purchase order numbers will be as good—or even better—than its X5 sibling.

THE Philippines is set to plunge into an innovative international car challenge that could mean a lot in its continuing search for an alternative source of power and energy.

THIS is the time of the year when vehicle owners are all scrambling to come up with the money to renew their car registrations. But it is not always the money for the registration that is the headache of these vehicle owners. Choosing the right insurance for their car is also one of their problems.