Louis Palmer has an ambitious plan to travel around the world in a solar-powered vehicle – the solar taxi. After setting off in his Swiss hometown Lucerne on July 3 last year, his journey round the world has just brought him to Niagara Falls. He has been travelling through all kinds of different countries, meeting new and interesting people and, some of the time, taking passengers with him. The aim of Palmer's project is to show that solutions to combat global warming are available and that we can be independent from fossil resources.
“I have not paid a single cent for gasoline after driving two thirds around the world so far!” says Louis Palmer, the Swiss adventurer and solar pioneer. On July 3, 2007 he set off with his solar taxi on this pioneering journey in Lucerne, Switzerland. In times of depleting resources, high fuel prices and global warming, Louis Palmer of Lucerne is looking for alternative drive technologies. His vehicle was designed by the four Swiss institutes HTA Lucerne, ETH Zurich, University of Applied Sciences in Aargau and University of Applied Sciences in Berne. His mission: to make people more aware of climate change.
Niagara Helicopters, President and Chief Pilot, Ruedi Hafen is excited to welcome Louis and his Solar Taxi to Niagara Helicopters on Friday, August 29th, 2008 at 1:30pm. “At Niagara Helicopters we are always interested in ways to protect the environment and reduce our carbon footprint while allowing tourists view the pure magnificence of Niagara Falls. We are investigating ways to off-set our flying and look forward to meeting Louis and hearing his ideas.” says Ruedi.
33,000 mi with solar electricity
The solar taxi consists have a solar vehicle and trailer with high-efficiency solar cells from Q-Cells. The vehicle is powered by 100% solar energy on its 33,000 mi-journey around the world. 50% of the energy comes from its own solar cells on the trailer; the other 50% are produced, certified and fed into the power grid on the roof of the Swisscom building in Köniz and accessed via power sockets en route. The solar taxi thus uses electricity from 100% renewable energy and releases no emissions into the atmosphere. On his promotional trip, Palmer wants to demonstrate that sustainable technologies are already perfectly suited to everyday use and that they can even be used to go round the world.
Take a ride in a solar taxi
The solar-powered vehicle has space for an additional person. Palmer makes use of this space to give various passengers a ride along the way – which is why the vehicle is called a taxi. The solar taxi, which travels at a maximum speed of 90 km/h on its three wheels, is equipped with luxurious, leather-covered bucket seats guaranteeing both fun and comfort. The solar taxi has the unique ability to allow either the driver or the passenger to drive the vehicle as the steering slides across horizontally. (This also helps when driver sides change from right to left.) German student Thomas Gottschalk, who is travelling in a conventional vehicle, is accompanying the solar taxi. The accompanying vehicle is a necessity, as it will carry everything needed for a trip round the world.
Going east – and enjoying 40 countries along the way
Louis Palmer set off eastwards on July 3, 2007 via Germany where he visited his main sponsor QCells. Via Eastern Europe, the Middle East, India, Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia and the Far East, Vancouver and San Diego, he is going to arrive in Niagara Falls on Friday, August 29th, 2008 at 1:30pm.
If everything works out, this project will set a world record, namely the first motor vehicle powered by solar energy to drive around the world. Thanks to state-of-the-art telecommunications technology, Palmer is reporting daily from his pioneering trip in an online diary, which can be followed on HYPERLINK "http://www.solartaxi.com" www.solartaxi.com.
Project partners
Palmer has managed to gain support from all kinds of partners from various industries for his unique project. They include:
- Q-Cells
- United Nations Environment Programme
- Swisscom
- Technopark Lucerne
- Wave communications
- Grebien network
- MES-DEA Zebra Battery
- Schindler Apprentice Training
- Kühne + Nagel
- Servax Drives
- Rockwell Automation
- Ruthishauser Car polstery
- Alu Menziken
- Presence Switzerland
- various Swiss universities
- and many more
Media information
Pictures can be downloaded from:
www.solartaxi.com
Continuative links Solartaxi:
www.solartaxi.com
Local Media Contact
Aneta Fleming
Niagara Helicopters Limited
(905) 658-3772
aneta@niagarahelicopters.com
Media Contact
Aneta Fleming
Niagara Helicopters Limited
(905) 658-3772 cell
aneta@niagarahelicopters.com
