Swiss adventurer arrives in Singapore in Solar Taxi

Channel NewsAsia 27 Mar 08;

SINGAPORE: Swiss Adventurer Louis Palmer is in Singapore on a worldwide tour to promote his solar car.

His tour, which covers 50,000km, 400 cities, 40 countries over one-and-a-half years, aims to drive home the message of global warming and alternative fuel sources.

A long trailer, carrying solar panels, is attached to the car. Designed in Switzerland, the 500kg car is made of aluminium and fibre glass.

The 36-year-old school teacher started his ambitious expedition in Europe in July 2007 and has since travelled across the Middle East, India and Australia.

"I cannot produce solar cars and I cannot open a factory tomorrow. But I can inspire hundreds of millions of people by driving the Solar Taxi around the world. I take two minutes of their time and make them think about the purpose behind it," said Mr Palmer.

He claims this is the first time a solar car is being driven around the world, fuelled by solar power only.

During his tour, Mr Palmer gives talks to students, politicians and celebrities to spread the message about how alternative fuels like solar energy are cheap and are able to prevent pollution.

He calls his car 'Solar Taxi' because it is used to give free rides. It was also showcased at the recent United Nations World Climate Conference in Bali.

While solar cars are not new, the Solar Taxi can travel a much longer distance. Mr Palmer said he hopes to approach big manufacturers to produce the car after completing his expedition later this year.

"All solar cars may be able to travel 80km or 100km on one battery charge, but the Solar Taxi can do up to 400km on one charge. The battery technology is improving a lot these days," he said.

The Solar Taxi has a top speed of 90km per hour and Mr Palmer, on average, travels 400km a day.

After Singapore, the Solar Taxi will continue the Asian leg, and then travel to America and Africa before ending in Europe.- CNA/so

Around the world in Solartaxi
Melissa Sim, Straits Times 28 Mar 08;

After nine months of travelling around the world in a solar-powered vehicle, Swiss adventurer Louis Palmer has made it to Singapore - the half-way mark.

Mr Palmer hopes to become the first person to circle the globe in a vehicle that uses solar power.

So far, the ride has been smooth. He has had just two mishaps: minor accidents in Syria and India.

Today, he leaves in his Solartaxi for Malaysia via the Causeway and will carry on through China, Japan, the United States and finally back to Lucerne in Switzerland, where he started his journey on July 3 last year.

He hopes to be back home by early December.

Half of the vehicle's energy is produced by solar panels on top of a 5m-long trailer rigged to the Solartaxi.

The other half comes from electrical energy taken from various power sockets worldwide.

To compensate for the energy taken, electricity is generated by solar panels back in Switzerland and fed back into the power grid.

Mr Palmer spent his three days here visiting Singapore Polytechnic and Nanyang Technological University, where he spoke about his efforts to promote the use of solar energy and prevent global warming.

Mr Palmer is not letting up on his cause once he returns home. 'I'll go around the world again and again, until more people are convinced to use solar energy,' he said.'

Related links

Meet the solar cabby
Ng Jing Yng, Today Online 26 Mar 08;

Solar-powered taxi seeks to go around world
Alister Doyle, Reuters 5 Dec 07;