Meticulously conceived by 22 engineering students and seven faculty members of De La Salle University, Manila, this completely Filipino-made, fully solar powered vehicle will compete in the 3,000-km, 2011 World Solar Challenge, set to take place from Darwin to Adelaide in Australia. The vehicle was recently launched in pomp and vigor by Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society, Inc. (PSCCSI) and De La Salle University.
Sikat II includes various improvements deeply integrated in its complete design, and is better than its predecessors. Its streamlined body is composed of advanced lightweight carbon fiber-honeycomb composite, thus allowing this agile vehicle to be just around 180kg in total weight. It is also efficiently equipped with indigenous solar cells manufactured by Sunpower Philippines. Moreover, the 2 kilowatt sturdy electric motor can unleash a speed of around 110kph.
PSCCSI said in a press release:
Sikat II is a testament of Filipino creativity and ingenuity, talent and technological capability in tapping clean and renewable sources of energy such as solar power. Just like Sinag and Sikat, Sikat II is beaming with promise as it shows the world what solar energy is capable of and what Filipinos can do in the field of science and technology.
Source: MyPinoy
