Engineering Students and Faculty of De La Salle University-Manila have built the first Philippine Solar Car to compete in the World Solar Challenge (in Australia from Oct. 22 - 28 this year.) The event that they will be participating on will be the 20th anniversary of the World Solar Challenge.
A short contest was held last January 10~17 to determine the name of the car. The winning entry was the word “Sinag,” which was picked by a committee composed of sponsoring companies. The major sponsors of the car are Ford Group Philippines, San Miguel Corp., Shell, Sunpower, Philippine Airlines and Ventus. While the minor sponsors are J. Walter Thompson, Creasia, Tuason Racing School, La Isla Lipana.
From Philstar:
The car resembles a pair of wings on wheels, with its solar cell-covered top surface stretching a little over six square meters. It is made out of carbon fiber and Nomex (aramid fiber) in order to keep it light — only 150 kilograms — and fast.
Solar panels for the car were provided by SunPower, one of the major sponsors of the car and a Solar Panel Manufacturing company which has a factory in Batangas, Philippines.
The main faculty members behind the project are: Engrs. Rene Fernandez (Project Leader), Martin Ernesto Kalaw, Anthony Escobar, Jose Antonio Catalan, and Isidro Marfori III. Advisers to the group are DLSU-Manila Executive Vice President Dr. Carmelita Quebengco and Vice President for Academics and Research Dr. Julius Maridable.
Mr. Kalaw was one of my professor’s in DLSU when I was still an undergrad in Engineering. One of the best teachers I had in that school. He was the one who gave me my love for Physics after a terror-driven teacher gave me the fear of it when I was still in highschool *snicker*
World Solar Challenge site here and history of the race found here
Category: Misc
