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THE
Philippines’ first solar-powered car undertook its first
public test, which was done during its official
unveiling held on September 1 at the One Esplanade, SM
Central Business Park, Pasay City.
Christened as “Sinag” (Filipino word for sunray), the
vehicle which was designed and built by students of the
Mechanical Engineering and the Electronic and
Communications Engineering Departments of De La Salle
University-Manila under Prof. Rene Fernandez for the
purpose of competing in this year’s World Solar
Challenge in Australia, was driven around the venue to
demonstrate its functionality to the media and guests
who came to witness the event.
According to Prof. Fernandez, “The car has three major
parts: the mechanical system, the electrical system and
the shell, all of which work together to keep the car
going.”
Sinag
features a monocoque frame made from steel and runs on
three wheels—the two in front are suspended using a
double wishbone layout and are used to steer the
vehicle, while the rear wheel drives it forward. The
driver sits in a reclined position in the center, where
he is surrounded by a cage made from steel, which is in
turn covered by a shell made from a composite of
prescored Termanto PVC boards and carbon fiber, which is
strong yet light.
The team
says that a lot of research was done using computer
models to determine its current shape, which only has a
0.1 drag coefficient. (Road cars on the average have a
drag coefficient of 0.3.)
Providing the motive force for Sinag is an electric
motor that draws its power from Kokam Lithium Polymer
batteries that are charged by 400 solar cells that are
laid up on the shell’s outskin. The 120-volt batteries
can be fully charged five hours and are capable of
powering the electric motor at a top speed of 100 kph
for four continuous hours. The solar cells, which
combine to produce 2 kW of power when heated by the
sun’s rays, are made by SunPower—a Philippine company.
The cells have an efficiency of 21 percent, which allows
them to convert solar energy more efficiently than any
other commercially available rivals that are only rated
between 15 percent and 17 percent.
With the
backing of De La Salle University-Manila, Ford Group
Philippines, Motolite, Philippine Airlines, San Miguel
Corp., Shell, SunPower, Ventus, Aurora, Cabrera Lavadia
and Associates, JWT, Creasia, Merritt Partners, Tuason
Racing School, Gochermann Solar Technology and
Stratworks, the Sinag team is hoping to make the country
proud when it goes up against other solar-power
challengers and previous champions in the prestigious
World Solar Challenge from October 21 to 28.
The
World Solar Challenge has been the traditional setting
for countries to showcase their technological prowess in
harnessing sustainable energy from the sun. It is also a
test of their ability to mount a challenge that requires
a delicate balance of speed and endurance, energy
management and strategic planning.
The
competition, which requires teams to build solar-powered
vehicles and drive them on a 3,000-km route from Darwin
to Adelaide in Australia, was primarily organized to
promote a clean and green environment by motivating
research and development for alternative power sources.
Since Danish adventurer Hans Thorstrup’s introduction of
the competition in 1987, more than 300 entries from all
over the world have joined the challenge.
The
Sinag team is scheduled to attend a mandatory workshop
for all competitors on October 8, which will follow road
trials on a designated racetrack from October 15 onward.
Registration for the challenge is set on October 18 and
the race will be flagged off on October 21 and the
awarding ceremonies will be held on October 28. |
