The planet's largest solar-powered boat has almost completed its trek around the earth. The Turanor has 700 panels and began its journey in 2010. It has not used the back-up diesel generators that were required for insurance reasons. Swiss company Planet Solar built the vessel for use as a marketing tool to encourage solar power. The Turanor will dock in Monaco this April.
Canada's Solar Ship may not replace the Goodyear Blimp, but it can fly after being filled with helium. Solar panels, like on the the Impulse, or onboard batteries car power it up. More importantly, if it had a leak and was air-filled only, it could still land safely. A 33 ft. prototype has already been tested and the company sees the airship as an aid for disaster relief, transferring medical supplies and environmental monitoring. We're thinking that the military would have limited usage, but you never know.
The Solar Impulse came to Paris last week to attend the air show there that is taking place this week. Perhaps the preflight was made just in case...as in just in case it tried to come earlier but couldn't due to inclement weather. Or as in the fact that although the plane is impressive in that it can operate without fuel and has a wing span of 64 meters, it can only move at a snail's pace of 44 mph. Ah well, if you are tooling around France this week, you can check it out for yourself.
Students at the University of New South Wales built a solar-powered car that broke the current speed record. The Sunswift IV (aka IVy) hit 56.85 mph, beating the previous record of 40.09 mph set in 1987. What made this a great day for the team was not only the fact that they performed on a mostly cloudy day, the miniscule Ivy ran solely on sun power, no batteries allowed.
A solar powered catamaran is endeavoring to circle the globe without the assistance of other fuel. Meant as a way to draw attention to the industry (and no doubt a kewl way to visit the planet,) the TÛRANOR PlanetSolar left Monaco in September, and is now in Switzerland. So far it has traveled about 7,000 nautical miles, about a quarter of the full journey. The 5,700 sq. ft. cat cost a whopping $17.5 million to build and you can follow its progress via the link or invest by picking up a t-shirt in its e-shop.
Owner Immo Ströher made this claim about the project, "It is my vision to see solar power take its rightful place - not only on rooftops, but also on the roads, seas and in the skies of the future." How noble!
Kyocera has begun production on Solar Cycle Stations, eco-friendly charging stations that will charge 6 bicycles simultaneously. At a humongous cost of $23,000 apiece, each has 3 solar panels, a maximum output of 79.8V and up to 1.14kWh per day.
The Plastiki, a boat made up of recycled materials, has successfully sailed from San Francisco to Sydney after a 4 month trek of 9,000 miles. During the trip, the catamaran sailed through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a sea of waste between California and Hawaii. The hull is made of 12,500 plastic bottles and the mast is a recycled irrigation pipe. Everything is held together with an organic glue made from cashew husks and sugarcane. Plastiki gets its power from solar panels and windmills.
Ironically, expedition leader David de Rothschild wanted to recycle the boat after its voyage but instead it will now be displayed in Sydney's Maritime Museum.
The Solar Impulse Plane has made its first successful flight. The plane reached 5,500 ft. in altitude and performed a few test maneuvers during its airborne 87 minutes. After the event, pilot Markus Scherdel claimed it was an "intense moment." The team plans two more test flights before its around the world flight scheduled for 2012.
Designer Damien Grossemy's Zep'lin is a vertical flying sailboat conceived for Renault. Solar panels tilt towards the sun for energy and lithium ion batteries store the extra energy. Expected to be built by 2015, the vehicle will be used to promote the car company's electric cars.
When the Commonwealth Games begin in October in New Delhi, India, the government and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research have arranged for 1,000 solar powered rickshaws to carry the competitors around. The Soleckshaws are both pedal and motor vehicles that can move about 10-15 km/hr with a 240W,36 volt BLDC hub Motor. The CSIR believes this to be a demonstration of what they can do and hope that they will be utilized when the games are over.
Bruce Maynard, who used to run marathons, now has some knee problems but still wants to travel 30 miles a day from Bellingham, UK to Key West, Florida. To accomplish his lofty mission, he is traveling in a solar- and battery-powered stroller. Nicknamed "Sam", the vehicle has a foldable solar panel that doubles as a work table and computer stand. The 74 year-old former businessman will also carry along a tent for shelter during his ambitious trek. Although he is not doing this for any charitable reason, he plans to participate in any green events that he runs across. Bon voyage, Mr. Maynard.
The "Mo-Du-Lo" is so named because the modular car can be made into three different versions. The Mo is a monocycle operated by pedals. The Du is a 4-wheeled car with two monocycles that can accomodate 2 and can be run by batteries that have gotten their power from photovoltaic cells. The Lo version connects many cars and monocycles to create trains and can be used for long distance traveling. The concept was part of the Michelin Challenge Design Showcase.
Students at Bonham ISD High School, in Bonham, Texas are converting a donated tractor to run on solar power. Its electric batteries will run with the help of a solar array or can be plugged in on overcast days. Once the E-Tractor is complete, it will be used in a driving certification/safety course. We bet it will be involved in several joyrides as well.
Tim Tobola designed the Urban Commuter Trike as his contribution to less dependence on oil. The solar panels, with a charge of 2 hours to its battery, can give the vehicle 20 - 30 miles of traveling. With weight sensitive front wheels, the rider can easily change directions. When not in use, the Infinity can fold up to save space on the planet.
Turanor Global Tour Nears Completion
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