"Sikat" Filipino Solar Car (RP’s second solar car )

[jpdm]

Group launches RP’s second solar car


BY DWIGHT SARGA
Malaya Business Insights
Dec. 17, 2009



It is sleek, small and light. But this race car looks more like an unidentified flying object with a yellow star on its head.
But the UFO-like style isn’t what makes this car strange and special. It’s about what it stands for.



Following the success of the country’s first solar car, [SIZE=3]the Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society, Inc. (SINAG Society) yesterday unveiled its second solar- powered car, [SIZE=4]Sikat,[/SIZE] which is faster, cheaper, lighter and effective than its predecessor. [/SIZE]



Former Energy Secretary Vincent Perez, honorary chairman of SINAG Society, said that Sikat was created to encourage the country to start shifting to renewable and sustainable energy for the Filipinos’ energy needs, and a way to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.



"It is positive proof of the Filipino people’s technological capability to develop solar power as a viable source of renewable energy," Perez said.
Sikat is more lightweight at about 200 kilos, requires less power and runs faster than its predecessor Sinag, said Isidro Marfori, Sikat production head.



He said that it has a better mechanical system with lighter parts. Since it’s much better, it can run more than 112 kilometers per hour, which was the top speed of Sinag, he added.



[SIZE=3]The Filipino-made one-seat car with three wheels is made up of a carbon body, making it light and faster.
[/SIZE]


Its top surface is covered with Sunpower solar cells or photovoltaic cells that convert light energy to electrical energy.



The Sunpower cells, which is Philippine-made and the most efficient commercial solar cells in the world, has an energy conversion efficiency of 22 percent, the best commercially available solar cell today.

"All area from the top is solar panels that are charging the battery inside (the car)," he said. With this, the car would not run out of energy as long as it is day. At night, it would run through its solar battery with a life of eight to 10 hours, he said.



"Mas maliit, mas maiksi, mas mabilis, mas mura…Walang usok na lumalabas diyan," Perez said.
Marfori said Sikat, which means sunray, is set to compete in the 2011 World Solar Challenge in Australia.


Sikat was made by faculty and students of the Mechanical Engineering and Electronics and Communications Engineering Departments of De La Salle University-Manila in partnership with SINAG Society.


Carl Mamawal, driver and member of the Sikat production team, said that it took them four to five months to complete the solar car.


But Marfori noted that Sikat is not just intended for racing. It means more than that.



He said that solar cars like Sikat could be converted into hybrid cars for public transportation.



This could be done by using both solar panels that would capture solar energy and fuel in making a vehicle run.



[SIZE=4]"Less gasoline, less pollution," [/SIZE]Marfori said. This way, carbon dioxide and green house gas emissions--which cause climate change--emitted by the transport sector would be reduced; hence the sector would contribute to the country’s climate adaptation programs.



"Hopefully, (we can) start doing other forms of solar powered vehicles like an electric-diesel jeepney… Sustainable, renewable, malinis," Perez said.
Jeepneys would be a good model of hybrid transport vehicle because it is smaller than buses, he said.



Perez said solar energy, one of the cleanest method of energy production, is abundant in the country because it is near the equator, making it possible for solar energy to be the used in transportation in the future.
But is all starts with awareness, Ed Chua, Pilipinas Shell chief executive officer and SINAG Society president, said.


Thus, SINAG Society would launch a nationwide Sikat road show to inform Filipinos, especially the youth, starting January.



They would also visit universities to encourage them to make their own solar cars and educate students about renewable energy, Perez said.
Sinag Society said that "while solar cells are currently expensive to manufacture, the cost of solar power is gradually decreasing as the technology improves and becomes more cost-effective to mass produce."
Marfori said that what needs to be done now is to continuously improve technology.



[SIZE=3]International institutions like the Asian Development Bank has noted in a study about Asia’s transport sector that worldwide transport sector accounts for 23 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions that causes climate change; while transport related carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase 57 percent worldwide during 2005-2030. And the transport in developing countries, which includes the Philippines, would contribute about 80 percent of the increase.
[/SIZE]


SINAG Society along with the faculty and students of the Mechanical Engineering and Electronics and Communications Engineering Departments of DLSU-M would make another solar car after two years, Ramon Agustines, president of Motolite and president of the SINAG Society.



Sinag, the first RP-solar car, was introduced in 2007. It finished 12th place out of 40 in a 3,000 kilometer race.

Good news!

[jpdm]

[SIZE=4]Sikat is RP's Next Hot Thing[/SIZE]

Written by: Anjo C. Alimario/Researcher
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Business Mirror

THE blazing rays of sun gave Sikat—the Philippines’ second solar-powered car—a perfect run around the SM Mall of Asia grounds showcasing one of the country’s concrete efforts in fighting climate change and, at the same time, to signal to the rest of world to do their share in climate-change mitigation.

Sikat’s launch also marked the anniversary of the Philippine Renewable Energy Act, the first comprehensive legislation in Southeast Asia to promote renewable energy, former Energy secretary Vince Perez, who is also the Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society Inc. (PSCS) special adviser, said.


“We’re blessed not only with sunshine and renewable energy but the fact that we are the leader in fighting climate change and in tapping the potentials of our young Filipinos,” Perez added.



The birth of Sikat was inspired from the success of the country’s first solar car—Sinag—after ranking 12th in the World Solar Car Challenge in Australia besting some of the more experienced participants in the competition.


Students and faculty from the mechanical engineering and electronics and communications engineering departments of the De La Salle University (DLSU)-Manila, in partnership with PSCS, designed and constructed Sikat.
“This is our [DLSU team] way of inspiring other people to invent things that will contribute in lessening the impacts of climate change,” Rachel Pastcoriza, electronics and communications engineering student and lone female driver of Sikat, said.



“There’s so much for the youth to do. I feel proud to be part of history.”
Sikat’s body was made of carbon fiber to make its weight lighter to achieve higher running speed.



Dean Dr. Pag-asa Gaspillo of the DLSU College of Engineering, said the smaller and sleeker Sikat features intensified power, higher level of performance and new aerodynamic properties.



“Sikat shows what the youth can do and points out that there is much to do in the academe in creating more clean-energy sources,” she explained.
The car’s top surface is covered with solar cells provided by Sunpower, the highest-efficiency commercial solar cells in the world, Sunpower director for quality assurance, Jong Jimenez, said.


The commercial solar cells are manufactured in Laguna where millions of solar cells are created and exported to other countries, he added.
The Philippines has a huge potential for tapping solar technology that is one of the cleanest known methods of energy production, the PCSC press release said.



According to the Department of Energy, the country receives an average of 5.1-kilowatt hours of solar radiation per square meter of land each day.
However, it is difficult to mass-produce solar-powered cars due to high upfront cost of manufacturing solar cells, the press release said. There needs to be a large surface area to catch enough sunlight to provide sufficient power to the car.



The goal of the project is to harness the power of sun and convert it to energy that can lessen the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, Ed Chua, PSCS president and Shell country chairman, said.


Moreover, the initiative hopes to generate pride for the Philippines and raise awareness for the vehicle-technology skill and potential in the country, he added.



For its short-term goals, Chua said the project seeks to demonstrate and interest the youth on technology.


According to Chua, Sikat will have a road show which is set to travel across the Philippines next year to show the youth from different universities the possibilities of solar technology.



The event also featured a performance of Final Cut band with the song “Lakbay,” written by Caesar Rosales, which won the first prize in the Sikat songwriting competition. The song encourages the youth to partake in this kind of endeavor of leading the cause in combating climate change.

Yes to this!!!

[andywesteast]

Hope they make it to Top Ten this time.

[jpdm]

SIKAT joins World Solar Challenge

Malaya Business Insights
March 23, 2010


http://www.malaya.com.ph/03232010/auto1.html#

A team of students and teachers of the mechanical and the electronics and communications engineering department at the De La Salle University has recently test run SIKAT, the country’s second solar-powered car.
Developed in partnership with the Philippine Solar Car Society, Inc. (PSCS), SIKAT is the successor and improved version of SINAG, the first ever solar-powered car in the Philippines.



Launched in December last year, SIKAT recently concluded a historic nationwide run, stopping at key universities and schools in Cebu, Bacolod, and Iloilo City in the Visayas, as well as Batangas, Angeles City, San Fernando and Laoag in Luzon.



SIKAT will compete in the 2011 World Solar Challenge, a 3,000-kilometer race across the Australian Outback that pits some of the most advanced solar-powered cars across the globe against each other.
Held every two years, the World Solar Challenge has more than a 20-year history spanning nine races.



The Philippines made its historical debut in the race with its entry, SINAG, in 2007. SINAG finished 11th place overall from about 40 entries worldwide.
With the abundance of solar energy in the Philippines, Ramon Agustines said PSCS believes solar energy can be the fuel of choice for transportation in the future.



"However, despite our country’s huge potential, solar power remains to be an alien concept with most Filipinos. SIKAT aims to be a driving force, literally, to generate awareness among the youth and the general public aware of the benefits of solar technology, and our potential to lead in it, as a nation."


Solar energy has many benefits. It is a limitless, renewable resource that does not pollute the air, and is a versatile way to heat water and power different technologies.



Jack Catalan, DLSU-Manila professor, assistant technical head and electrical team head of SIKAT, said the solar car also works silently, so it does not add to the noise pollution already on the road.
"Most importantly, the energy is free and you don’t have a dependence on foreign oil," Catalan said.


To showcase the capability of a solar-powered car, SIKAT underwent a series of test runs while embarking on the nationwide tour. Standing at 1.1 meters, the solar car cruised 112 kilometers per hour at 40 kms. from Clark South SCTEX toll to Tarlac exit. This is faster than its predecessor, SINAG, since it was built with less air resistance. Each solar cell on SIKAT’s surface can generate a peak power of 3.3 watts.


SIKAT is back in Manila to undergo more test runs in preparation for the World Solar Challenge. Partnering with the PSCS are their sponsors, De La Salle University, First Gen Corp., Ford Motor Company Philippines, Motolite, Pilipinas Shell and Sunpower.

Good news!

[Negus]

^^ hehe, si Engr. Catalan ang thesis adviser ko nuong estudyante pa ako. napakabait at napakadaling i-approach.

[winr01]

Pasingit po..
Im proud to be the one of the employee of one and only solar manufacturer here in our country..

SUNPOWER PHILIPPINES MANUFACTURING LIMITED

[ghosthunter]

Pasingit po..
Im proud to be the one of the employee of one and only solar manufacturer here in our country..

SUNPOWER PHILIPPINES MANUFACTURING LIMITED

Can you provide a price-list of your company's products? Maybe a website with prices or similar?

[jpdm]

Pasingit po..
Im proud to be the one of the employee of one and only solar manufacturer here in our country..

SUNPOWER PHILIPPINES MANUFACTURING LIMITED

[ghosthunter]

So,... will you be integrating solar panels on the ejeep soon?

[April Boy]

solar powered e-jeepney will be very interesting..