MANILA (PNA) – The Philippine Solar Car Society Inc. (PSCSI) on yesterday launched the country’s second solar car in a grand ceremony held at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

PSCSI is a non-stock, non-profit organization incorporated to promote the beneficial use of renewable energy sources – including, but not limited to, solar power.

Dubbed “Sikat”, the hand-made solar car came in the heels of the success of “Sinag”, RP’s first solar-powered car that brought pride to the country by finishing 12th among 40 entries in the 2007 World Solar Car Challenge in Australia.

Sikat boasts of a sleeker and more maneuverable design and was made by a 33-man team of engineering students and faculty members from the De La Salle University. The team was sponsored by several major Philippine companies that comprise PSCSI headed by Ford Philippines, Motolite, Shell and Sunpower Corporation among others.

Sikat weighs only 190 kilograms, lighter by 100 kilograms than its predecessor, is equipped with better aerodynamics and mechanical design and is touted to run above 112 kph, the top speed of Sinag. It can also run at night on its batteries for eight straight hours.

PSCSI officials said that the success of Sinag in the solar car-racing competition in 2007 was a stellar example of how the Philippines can stand with the rest of the world in meeting such a challenge that requires superior technology and skill.

But with Sikat, it will take the vision of Philippine leadership in solar energy to greater heights.

While Sinag introduced the country’s solar energy effort to the world, Sikat aims to make every Filipino aware of the benefits of using solar energy.

For this, PSCSI would take Sikat in a series of provincial roadshow events that hopes to connect solar energy to the public.