STAR SUPPORTS 'SIKAT-2' SOLAR CAR QUEST
MANILA, MARCH 11, 2011 (STAR) By Marichu Villanueva - [Photo is loading... Miguel Belmonte (seated, second from left), president and CEO of The STAR Group of Companies, signs a media partnership agreement on 'Sikat-2' with the Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society Inc. chaired by Federico Lopez (seated, second from right), chairman and CEO of FirstGen Corp. and First Philippine Holdings Corp. Witnessing the signing are Arthur de Guia (seated, right), president of First Philec Solar; Tammy Lipana (seated, left) of the PSCCSI; (standing, from left) Estela de la Paz, associate vice president of FirstGen.; and STAR associate editor Marichu Villanueva. FERNAN NEBRES]
MANILA, Philippines - The country's third generation solar-powered car "Sikat-2" got a much-needed boost in its quest to win this year's World Solar Challenge (WSC) race in Australia in October.
The Philippine STAR entered into a media partnership agreement with the Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society Inc. (PSCCSI) to support the country's bid to win this year's staging of the WSC.
Miguel Belmonte, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of The STAR Group of Companies, signed last Friday the document of partnership with Federico Lopez, chairman of PSCCSI, at the Benpres building in Ortigas, Pasig City.
Lopez is also chairman and CEO of FirstGen Corp. and First Philippine Holdings Corp., the mother company of all Lopez-owned businesses.
The signing was witnessed by Arthur de Guia, president of First Philec Solar, and Tammy Lipana, both representing PSCCSI, and Estela de la Paz, associate vice president of FirstGen.
Under the partnership, The STAR will help in the public awareness campaign on the beneficial use of solar and other renewable energy sources as well as generate support for the locally assembled, solar-powered Sikat-2 that was designed and is being built by Filipino engineering professors and students from the De La Salle University (DLSU).
"We're happy and proud to be part of this project. The Philippine STAR is prepared to support such endeavors with the combined technology and expertise of FirstGen and De La Salle. It is something we can truly be proud of," Belmonte said.
Sikat-2 will compete in the WSC's six-day sun-up to sundown race, a 3,000-kilometer run from Darwin to Adelaide through the Australian Outback.
This international race of solar-powered cars from all over the world, held every other year in Australia, was organized to promote the development of solar power technology.
A solar car is an electric vehicle powered by energy from the sun harvested by solar panels, also known as photovoltaic (PV) cells, that convert light into electricity. These energy cells are stored in hair-thin wafers that are molded into the car's body.
The country's first solar-powered car was the result of pioneering efforts of DLSU students in Manila who started this project from scratch.
Individuals and groups supporting the development of clean and renewable energy sources have long recognized the need to popularize their advocacy by coming up with a project related to renewable energy that would appeal to the public. One such project called for the production of a locally assembled solar car.
In 2007, these advocates banded together to promote the use of renewable energy and formed the PSCCSI as a non-stock, non-profit company to promote the development of renewable energy sources, including but not limited to solar power. The PSCCSI acted as coordinator in gathering support from corporations for the country's first solar car.
FirstGen joined PSCCSI and other groups when the DLSU assembled in 2009 a second and much-improved solar car, named "Sikat." This year, FirstGen has again thrown its support behind the program of PSCCSI and DLSU to assemble a third and further improved solar car, Sikat-2.
It will be the second time DLSU will represent the Philippines in this event. The first generation solar-powered car, aptly named "Sinag," was the country's first unit designed and built by DLSU students also under the auspices of the PSCCSI.
Sinag first raced in the 2007 staging of the WSC, finishing 12th in a field of 40 international entries. Former DLSU president Bro. Armin Luistro, now Education secretary, flew to Australia to cheer the team on.
Like Sinag, Sikat-2 is a single-seat race car on three wheels with a body of carbon fiber, a lightweight material used in making Formula One race cars. From direct solar power supply through solar panels only, Sikat-1 could run up to 80 kilometers per hour (kph).
De Guia, a member of the technical team supervising the project, said they are designing Sikat-2 to make its solar battery capable of pushing the car to go as fast as 110 kph for a limited amount of time.
Running on battery power alone and cruising at 80 kph on a flat road, he said, it can have a range of 400 kilometers. If the run included daylight hours, or under clear skies, Sikat's range could extend up to 933 kilometers, he added.
But with lesser drag factor because of better design and with the use of improved materials, De Guia said Sikat-2 is expected to perform better than its predecessors.
In his remarks after the signing, Lopez vowed to push for Sikat-2 to be first at the finish line this October.
"So we would like to make our Sikat-2 sleeker, much lighter and a lot faster," Lopez said.
Lopez said Sikat-2 will be using wafers being produced by Sunpower Philippines, a US-based company that has a business tie-up with First Philec.
"With your help, we can chronicle their journey to the finish line and win the race," Lopez told The STAR.
He revealed the Lopez group has set aside P10 million to bankroll the project, including sending the Philippine team to Australia to compete in the WSC race.
The final design of Sikat-2 will be presented to the public on March 17 by the 22 students and three professors of DLSU who are behind the project.
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