Get Ready for the Future -- Swiss SOLAR TAXI World Tour Coming to SCC on July 31
~ Solar-powered vehicle tours the globe … stops in Scottsdale at the end of July! ~
EVENT CANCELED
Scottsdale, AZ (July 9, 2008) – While gas prices continue to soar and consumers continue to fill their tanks, the eco-friendly Solar Taxi keeps on driving. Scottsdale Community College is gearing up to host the arrival of the Solar Taxi, a now world-famous, three wheeled, solar powered vehicle, at the end of July. This event is free and open to the public.
“College campuses are about encouraging new ideas and providing communities with new learning experiences,” said Dr. Jan Gehler, Scottsdale Community College president. “We encourage everyone to join us at SCC to experience the Solar Taxi – a timely 21st century innovation.”
Sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program, the Solar Taxi boasts zero CO2 emissions, high efficiency -- and a definite cool factor. Louis Palmer, the originator and driver of the Solar Taxi pictured here in Peking, is making stops across the globe to bring awareness to global warmin g and show that sophisticated technology to reduce greenhouse gasses through solar-powered transportation is possible – and here to stay.
“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. 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.” – Louis Palmer.
The Solar Taxi is an electric vehicle with two wheels up front and one in the rear. It has a 16 foot trailer covered with 64 square feet of solar Q-Cells that generate the car's electricity. The car and the trailer each have a ZEBRA (sodium nickel chloride) battery pack. The electricity is stored in the battery, so the Solar Taxi can even drive at night. The maximum speed of the Solar Taxi is 56 mph.
The vehicle is 100% powered by solar energy on its journey around the world. Fifty percent of the energy comes from its own solar cells on the trailer while the other 50% is produced, certified and fed into the power grid on the roof of the Swisscom building in Köniz and accessed via power sockets en route. Thus, the Solar Taxi uses electricity from 100% renewable energy and releases no emissions into the atmosphere. The vehicle was designed by four Swiss institutes: HTA Lucern, ETH Zurich, University of Applied Sciences in Aargau, and University of Applied Sciences in Berne. For more information about the technology of the Solar Taxi, visit www.solartaxi.com/technology/.
Driven by Palmer, the Solar Taxi left Lucerne, Switzerland one year ago. Since its departure, it has crossed Eastern Europe, the Balka ns, the Mideast, India, Indonesia, Australia, China, and South Korea, and was transported in a container into North America via Canada (Vancouver, B.C.) on July 2nd. Read about Palmer’s recent visit to Vancouver: www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=d710575e-8941-45bd-88ee-452964a389d0
The Solar Taxi arrived in the US on July 2nd (Bellingham, WA), with stops in Seattle, WA (July 3rd – 5th), Portland, OR (July 6th), Sacramento, CA (scheduled for July 10th), and San Francisco (scheduled for July 12th through 17th), with plans to tour California before arriving in Scottsdale on July 31st. By the end of his journey, Palmer will have visited at least 40 countries.
During his journey, Palmer has demonstrated the Taxi to several heads of state, environmental ministers of several countries, and officials of international organizations. Some have even taken a spin around the block in the Solar Taxi, including:
Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York
Harald Egerer, Head of United Nations Environment Program
Princess Sumaya of Jordan
Prince Hassan of Jordan
Micheline Calmy-Rey, Swiss President
Dr. Pachauri, 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner and member of the International Panel on Climate Change
Peter Garrett, Environment Minister of Australia (pictured below in the Solar Taxi)
Robert Kennedy, Jr.
Bianca Jagger, Chair of the World Future Council
For more information about Louis Palmer’s team and the Solar Taxi’s past and up coming adventures via blogs, progress reports, photos, and more, visit www.solartaxi.com.
Special Note: To get updates on Palmer’s arrival in Scottsdale, visit www.scottsdalecc.edu/green. And be sure to log on 48 hours in advance of his arrival date (July 31) to confirm his arrival.
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About Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale Community College offers over 1,500 academic and non-credit classes each semester. Located on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the campus is known for its serene atmosphere and beautiful plant and wildlife. With nearly 12,000 students, Scottsdale Community College is proud to offer high-quality, affordable programs in small class settings. From Motion Picture/Television Production and Culinary Arts to Nursing and American Indian Studies, students have a wide variety of programs from which to earn credits for university transfer, launch their careers, train for new ones, or pursue a special interest. The SCC Business Institute offers customized programs to meet the needs of local business. Scottsdale Community College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges.
To learn about the many academic programs at Scottsdale Community College, call us at (480) 423-6000 or visit our website at www.scottsdalecc.edu.
Media contact:
Denise Kronsteiner
(480) 423-6567
denise.kronsteiner@sccmail.maricopa.edu
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