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De La Salle University students out to make a mark in the field of solar energy technology could not have chosen a better partner to build SINAG. SINAG, the Philippines’s first solar car, was developed by dedicated and talented university students, in cooperation with what has become the Philippine Solar Car Society.

The story of SINAG is nothing short of phenomenal. A group of engineering students from De La Salle University, armed with sheer vision, intelligence and skill, supported by some of the country’s biggest companies, ventured into uncharted territory, by proposing to build the first Philippine solar car. But more than building merely a showpiece, the group also aimed to run the car in the punishing World Solar Car Challenge, not a mean feat for virtual beginners in the world of solar car technology. Conceived by fuel economy expert Hans Tholstrup in 1987, the World Solar Challenge is the biggest car race involving more than 20 countries. The race is 3,010 kilometers in distance across the Australian continent from Darwin to Adelaide.

The Philippine team, crossed every finish line in the 3-stage race, ending in 12th place over-all, besting some of the more experienced participants of the Challenge.

THE SOCIETY

The Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society, Inc. (SINAG Society) was formed after a visit to Australia a few years ago by Henry Co, the President of Ford Philippines and currently the Society’s current vice president, who was impressed by the values and international competitiveness fostered by the World Solar Challenge.

The Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit organization incorporated to promote the beneficial use of renewable energy sources –including, but not limited to, solar power. The Society aims to undertake a viable and continuing program for the study and application of renewable energy sources toward the development of a Philippine program for sustainable utilization of renewable energy.

Coming together to support the development of the first Philippine Solar Car, the society’s members are leaders of some of the Philippine top corporations. Together with students from the De La Salle University, the Society funded the completion of SINAG. To those who remember the proud moment, SINAG continued on to win the 12th place in the WSC. While the Society has committed to keep the Philippines represented in the race event, it also seeks to go beyond building solar cars solely for competition. After the initial success of SINAG at the World Solar Car Challenge (WSC) in 2007, the Philippine Solar Car Society, has taken on the mandate of developing solar energy technology in the Philippines.

The Society Board Members are from various organizations and industries but have joined together in their personal capacity to promote research and development of renewable energy sources such as solar energy. Its members’ list sounds like a veritable roll-call of the Philippines’ top executives: Ramon Agustines of Motolite as Chairman, Edgar O. Chua (Pilipinas Shell CEO), Henry Co (Ford Motor Company Chairman), Roberto Kanapi (Pilipinas Shell VP for Communications), Tammy Lipana (Chair and Senior Partner, Price Waterhouse Cooper), former Energy Sec. Vince Perez, and Greg Reichow (President, Sunpower), among others.

Like the other trustees, PSCS Chair Mon Agustines, is more than slightly enthusiastic about the potential of solar power in the Philippines. Agustines also heads Motolite, the leading automotive battery brand in the Philippines. Such is his belief in the project that Motolite is one of the top sponsors of the Philippine Solar Car project.

“Solar energy is something that is so abundant, especially for the Philippines. We believe solar energy can be the fuel of choice for transportation in the future, but it starts with awareness. Hence this year’s efforts – the songwriting contest, the launch of SIKAT, and the Roadshow across the Philippines -- are geared toward making the youth and the general public aware of the benefits of solar technology, and our potential to lead in it, as a nation,” he said, about the group’s initiatives.

By all indications, the Society is determined to create more awareness for the effort. This December, they will launch a series of activities designed, to take the solar car experience a little closer to the people. This year, too, the Philippine Solar Car Society has built a worthy successor to SINAG. Dubbed SIKAT, the Philippines’ second solar car, takes the vision of Philippine leadership in solar energy to greater heights. While SINAG introduced the Philippine Solar Energy effort to the world, SIKAT aims to make every Filipino aware of the benefits of the use of solar energy, through a series of provincial roadshows that connect it with the general public.


The members of the society are one in the view that the success of the SINAG in the solar car-racing world is a stellar example of how the Philippines can stand with the rest of the world in meeting a challenge, which requiring superior technology and skill. Recently, the Philippine solar car was on exhibit at the Mabuhay Germany 2009, an annual exposition sponsored by the German Philippines Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the Philippines’ excellence in the field of Solar technology.


”As SIKAT highlights our ingenuity, our will to lead, our capability for technology, and our commitment to the use of clean, renewable energy, SIKAT will be a source of great pride for the Philippines,” Agustines avers.

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