Sinag, the Philippines’ first solar powered car, is unveiled
By Brian Afuang, Manila Times, Sept 4, 2007
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/sept/04/yehey/motoring/20070904moto1.html
There must be some form of irony in the whole thing when Sinag, the first Philippine made solar car, was unveiled on a day (September 1) when the sun seemed a bit lazy to show itself, and intermittent drizzles threatened the car’s first public test run. This, after Sinag’s original launch date fell squarely on the day Typhoon Dodong visited Metro Manila. That, however, was nothing compared to the daunting task the car—and everybody involved in its creation—had overcome and still face in the future. If not irony then, it’s metaphor.
Sinag will participate in the 20th World Solar Challenge in Australia in October, where it needs to traverse almost 3,000 kilometers from Darwin to Adelaide. Over 30 countries, most of whom have decades of experience in solar car technology and are backed by large finances, will take part in the challenge. By contrast, Sinag was designed and built by students from the Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Engineering departments of De La Salle University-Manila.
However, that does not mean Sinag is merely a pipe dream. Providing assistance for the effort are Aurora, Cabrera, Lavadia and Associates, JWT, Creasia, Merritt Partners, Tuason Racing School (TRS), Gocherman Solar Technology, and Stratworks. Sinag is sponsored by big-name corporations that include DLSU, Motolite, Philippine Airlines, San Miguel Corp., Pilipinas Shell, SunPower, Ventus, and Ford Group Phils. Garage project, Sinag is not.
Fact is, it was Ford chairman Henry Co, back when he was the company president, who envisioned Sinag. Meanwhile, serving as chairman of the World Solar Car Challenge Society is former energy secretary Vincent Perez. At the Sinag unveiling, present DOE Secretary Angelo Reyes delivered a speech. “The technology may not be ready today, but maybe 30 years from now we will all be driving solar cars,” Reyes said in an interview.
Sinag technology
DLSU professor Rene Fernandez, who is the project’s overall technical team leader, explained “The car has three major parts: the mechanical system, the electrical system, and the shell. All of these elements [must] work together to keep the car going.”
Like most solar cars, Sinag looks like something that came straight out of a sci-fi comic book, if not a speedboat with wheels. A vast expanse of flat horizontal surface—necessary for the numerous solar cells to sit on—is broken by a glass canopy with a composite roof. Underneath, three wheels partly hidden by aerodynamic appendages complete the vehicle’s insect-on-stilts looks. Why majority of solar cars are painted white, I’m not exactly sure. But there must—no, should—be a reason for it.
Contrary to what one may initially suspect, the rear wheel isn’t what steers the car but rather the two front ones. The rear is actually the one that powers Sinag. From the 400 solar cells, energy is harnessed (as much as 2000 watts) to charge Kokam Lithium Polymer batteries, which in turn power the in-wheel motor. The 120-volt batteries can be fully charged in five hours of sustained sunpower, and the energy stored in them can run Sinag in top speed for four straight hours. The stored energy also comes in handy when clouds cover the sun.
A single race bucket seat perched at a 27-degree angle serves as the driver’s seat, and the cockpit is protected by a safety rollcage. The driver turns the car through a steering system made from used motorcycle forks and wheels. A modified MacPherson strut system suspends the car, and calipers brake it. “The car weighs just about 150 kilograms,” says Co. “With 1000 watts of electricity, the car can run up to 100 kph.”
A large factor in Sinag’s design is its low weight. “The shell is actually made through a new technology where carbon fiber is fused with a hollow core comb,” Co says. “A thin fiber carbon skin then covers it,” Co explained further. “If you touch the underside of the car, it’s a bit soft. But it’s very strong—and light.” Another key element in Sinag’s design are the solar cells. “We are fortunate that SunPower, a local company, makes one of the best commercially available solar cells in the world,” says Co. SunPower’s monocrystalline silicon structure converts solar energy into electrical power more efficiently than conventional cells do.
Sinag strategy
“Of course, it’s not only about the equipment,” Co says as Sinag was wheeled out of the display hall and onto public roads at the SM Business Park for its first public test drive. “It’s also about the ‘race’ strategy. It’s knowing when to speed up or when not to, knowing the route, knowing how to maximize energy.”
And here is where the expertise of race driver JP Tuason of TRS comes in. Besides supervising the Sinag public run, Tuason will train the Sinag team who will fly to Australia on the finer points of fuel economy driving. The team will use Ford’s newly launched Focus TDCi, a diesel car that boast of a claimed 21.7 kilometer-to-a-liter fuel consumption yet makes 340 Newton-meter of torque. So quick yet fuel-efficient it is, an excellent car to train in, with equally competent tutors to learn from. If anything, the Focus TDCi’s involvement in the project further underscores Ford’s commitment to alternative energy source programs. Ford also sells a flex-fuel Focus that runs on conventional gasoline or E10 gas/ethanol blend.
Sinag workload
Everybody involved in the project admits there are still lots of work left to be done before Sinag is hied off to Australia. At the test run, Sinag performed flawlessly, tackling the makeshift slalom course, and starting up or braking to a halt as necessary. But Tuason admits the car still has to meet the performance levels other participants have achieved.
As if on cue, rain started to fall again as soon as Sinag was done with its test runs and parked at its stage, with all the photo opportunities over and done. The Sinag team then pulled out the car’s protective cover, which was made from discarded plastic wrappers glued together with duct tape—no sponsor decals, no sewed up material, no nothing. It truly illustrates more work is needed.
“If you look closely, the car’s construction is a little crude. So we’re helping them out now to work on some of the rough edges,” Co says. “But you have to give them credit,” Co quickly adds. “They built this working car by hand. They should be given Master’s Degrees already,” Co says, referring to the Sinag team college students.
As the heavens continued to open up, Sinag was wheeled into a tent, where the Sinag team beamed with pride as they gathered around the car. The rains may have spoiled schedules and all, but it didn’t dampen Sinag’s spirit. Guess you could call that the eternal sunshine of spotless minds.