DLSU’s Improved Sikat II to compete in 26th World Solar Challenge

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SIKAT II is a solar and battery-powered electric vehicle. It is specifically built and design to compete in the 2013 World Solar Challenge.

Sikat II, the latest solar-powered race car developed and bullt in the Philippines was launched together with the team who developed and will operate the car in the World Solar race was given a warm send-off as the country’s official participant to the 2013 World Solar Challenge.

Last September 18, a press conference held at De La Salle University (DLSU) Taft Avenue, Manila with a gathering of scientists, environmentalists, media, bloggers, students and members of the DLSU academe.

The team is comprised of 50 mechanical and electrical engineering students plus six faculty members from De La Salle University. Additional improvements, which took a grueling seven months to complete, were applied to Sikat II. The vehicle was subject to test runs at Basa Airbase and SCTEX to ensure optimum performance.

The famed solar car was reported to run with increased speeds at lower power consumption, making it the most efficient version of the vehicle to date. This will help further the team’s goal of landing in the top 3 of the competition.

The improved version of Sikat II runs at an average speed of 80 kph and a maximum speed of 110 kph. The solar car uses Sunpower Silicon with an estimated efficiency of 22%. It also uses a power output of 1300 W.

Mechanical and electrical engineering students from the De La Salle University pose with Sikat II, the solar-powered car they helped design and build for the World Solar Challenge in Australia in October 2013.

Sikat II also boasts of a new battery management system, improved telemetry, upgraded wiring, and cruise control. Its brakes are also newly designed and the solar car has a new suspension system. For aerodynamics, it has a lower coefficient of drag achieved through modifications in fairings. High performance Schwalbe Sleek tires were also used for the car.

First Phil Holdings, First Gen, Energy Development Corporation, Sunpower, Ufreight, Shell, and Motolite helped make the improved Sikat II possible.

The solar car team wishes to further the cause of promoting the use of renewable energy and clean technologies in the field of transportation. The World Solar Challenge, established in 1987, has been a strong platform for young engineers and scientists all over the world for the pursuing the ideals of sustainable transport. 47 teams from 26 countries will be competing this year.