Reuters: Solar-powered taxi seeks to go around world

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/idUKL051985320071205

Solar-powered taxi seeks to go around world

Wed Dec 5, 2007 8:56am GMT

By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent

NUSA DUA, Indonesia (Reuters) - Louis Palmer's taxi cost as much as two Ferraris, has a top speed of 90 kms (55 miles) per hour yet could make history as the first solar-powered car to drive around the world.

Palmer, a Swiss teacher who set off from Lucerne in July, is having a stop-off in Bali, Indonesia, to help environment ministers and others among 10,000 delegates get around at a December 3-14 U.N. climate conference in a luxury beach resort.

"This is the first time in history that a car is driving around the world without using a single drop of petrol," he told Reuters by the blue and white three-wheeled car, which tows a flat-topped trailer with 6 sq meters (65 sq ft) of solar panels.

"This car is driving entirely with solar energy," he said. So far he has driven 14,400 km (8,950 miles) through 17 nations including Romania, Turkey, Syria and India.

...

[NNadir]

1. Oh Good. Driving a car that costs as much as two Ferraris around the world.

I for one, am extremely impressed.

One wonders how much energy was burned shipping the car to Indonesia, which is, of course, on an island.

Let me guess. The car was shipped on a wind powered clipper ship.