In 2007, Louis Palmer set off from his home in Lucerne in his solar taxi with one goal in mind: to be the first person ever to travel round the world in a vehicle driven by solar power. A dream in the making since he was a fourteen year old boy, he is currently living his dream going round the world in a solar powered vehicle. Instead of waiting for the right vehicle to come along, he decided to build his own.
“On 3 July 2007 I set off on my first journey around the world with a solar powered vehicle. Admittedly, as a regular citizen I cannot change the world but I can demonstrate to the world just how dire the global climate situation has become and how many sophisticated solutions to lower the greenhouse gases already exist, which bring with them many other advantages. So that we can have a better world and a more secure future. The solar taxi should rekindle hope and a zest for life, set an example to counteract resignation and stimulate reflection. And show that every single one of us can take a step towards preserving our planet.
While it is questionable what happens when he needs to transverse over large bodies of water, one thing’s for sure, this car is going the distance and you can track the team and the car condition daily on the site’s website. The Solartaxi hits the open road powered purely on the sun, with zero carbon emissions. On a full charge, the battery can last 400km with a maximum speed of up to 90 km/h, before it needs to hook into its trailer again. The combination in power and distance comes from its highly efficient solar cells and its ZEBRA High-Energy Battery. With the ability to be charged over 1,000 times, it is more efficient and goes further than the typical nickel-cadium battery. The best part? It’s 100% recyclable and included in the price. Now there’s a car with a battery that can go places.
To find out more about the vehicle itself, it’s journey, and those supporting it’s travel visit the website: http://www.solartaxi.com