Filipinos develop first Solar Car for international race

A team of Filipino engineering students and professors from De LaSalle University-Manila is developing Sinag, the first Philippine solar car project that will compete in the Panasonic World Solar Challenge in Australia on Oct. 21 to 28,2007.

The challenge is to build a solar car that is capable of traveling across the Australian continent (3,000 km journey) on the power of sunlight. Since 1987, the international competition has been motivating young scientists and engineers worldwide to pursue the ideals of sustainable development.

Working like an assembly line, three teams - shell, mechanical, and electrical teams - are responsible for the technical aspect of Sinag. The solar car is 4.79m long, 1.73 m wide, and with a height of 1.07m. Its shell is composed of carbon fiber that is a lightweight material. The students used software programs such as AutoCAD, Solidworks, and Cosmos to design and simulate the solar car.

Martin Sy-Quia, Mechanical Engineering (MEE) junior and head of shell team, said he is now realizing the pressure of the project. “We have to learn so many new things and do this before October. There are more experienced teams, because they have been participating since 1987.” But Sy-Quia is proud to represent his country through this project.

On the other hand, another MEE junior Prince Ang participated in this project to further enhance his engineering skills and apply the theories he learned in his course. While the subjects taught in classes provide general engineering concepts, Ang furthered the project exposed the students to a specific interest: automobile engineering through the use of non-conventional energy.

The students are guided by Rene Fernandez (project leader), Martin Kalaw, Anthony Escobar, Jose Catalan, and Isidro Marfori III - all faculty members of College of Engineering.

Though working under budget constraint, the team ensured that it will work at its best to develop the car. The average budget of contending teams is $100,000 that can only deliver a simple output.

Ford Philippines, San Miguel, Philippine Airlines, and Shell Philippines are working with De La Salle to create the Solar Car. Minor sponsors are J. Walter Thomson, Creasia, Tuason Racing School, La Isla Lispana, and Sun Power.

By Paul Darwynn Garilao (www.goodnewspilipinas.com)