Author Topic: Sikat, the solar car, wooed Dabawenyos  (Read 809 times)

MikeLigalig.com

  • FOUNDER
  • Webmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 33284
  • Please use the share icons below
    • View Profile
    • Book Your Tickets on a Budget
Sikat, the solar car, wooed Dabawenyos
« on: January 26, 2010, 11:04:13 AM »
Sikat, the solar car, wooed Dabawenyos
By Digna D. Banzon

The car that was on display at SM City Davao made Dabawenyos curious as to how the solar powered car works.

And when it was driven around the mall, the public was behind it all the time, awed and amazed. It's location at the atrium of SM allowed shoppers to view it, some took pictures and a lot stopped to listen to the audio visual presentation on protecting the environment that accompanied the roadshow.

"Sikat", the second solar powered car, designed by 33-man team of students and faculties of De La Salle University, was first shown to the Davao public on Saturday. It was the first roadshow outside of Manila which was part of a 50-day historic tour around the country to generate awareness among Filipinos on the use of solar energy.

The car was transported to Ateneo de Davao University and at the University of Mindanao on Monday, Jan. 25.

Anna Liza Mauhay, electrical team member of Sikat, also a fifth year electrical engineering student of DSLU, in an interview, said her involvement gave her more reason to learn and explore the earth's resources like hydro and solar for sources of power.

But aside from being exposed to the work, the 21-year old graduating student from Bulacan said she realized that it was important also to be knowledgeable on technopreneurship.

She said her knowledge on electrical engineering could best be translated to doing technology and business at the same time.

"This is the best test when one could apply the knowledge learned in school to something that could benefit the people," she said.

"With this I am encouraged to do some advocacy on renewable energy perhaps through hydro," she said.

Mauhay joined the team after completing a screening when she was in fourth year, an opportunity she valued much given the chance to be part of the team that made Sikat, the solar car that will compete in the World Solar Car Challenge in 2011 in Australia.

The first solar car Sinag, finished 12th in 2007, was among the 40 competing teams in the World Solar Car Challenge also in Australia.

She also said the roadshow was another avenue for them to see the market in the provinces, an experience that was rare for a student like her.

SM City regional operations manager Debby A. Go said the solar powered car is a testimony of the Filipino talent and ingenuity and because they are one in advocating messages of environmental conservation and protection, they could only hope that the roadshow could inspire the public.

She said the exhibit could be a source where everyone becomes mindful of how to conserve energy and a challenge to further find means of environmental conservation.

On the other hand, Jonathan Go, also an Electrical and Communications Engineering (ECE) student of DSLU and a member of the Sikat team, said the solar car had improved design features of new generation sun power cells and sleeker as it was more maneuverable and of aerodynamic design.

The car weighs 190 kilograms without the driver and all the parts put together cost the car P5 million, he said.

He said from Davao City, they will do some road test to Cagayan de Oro City where another roadshow will be held at SM City Cagayan de Oro.

Go said many might wonder how the car will be driven at night but he said it has lithium ion phosphate batteries, where the solar power is stored.

"It is a matter of managing it considering that during the race at the World Car Solar Challenge, it has to go from the north to the southern part of Australia and one has to traverse the leg during day and night time," he said.

He said the solar car was only intended for the race and he had no idea as yet for other purposes like commercialization. (PNA)
RMA/Digna D. Banzon/lvp

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=24906.0
John 3:16-18 ESV
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

👉 GET easy and FAST online loan at www.tala.com Philippines

Book tickets anywhere for planes, trains, boats, bus at www.12go.co

unionbank online loan application low interest, credit card, easy and fast approval

Tags: