Indian Prez Flags Off Eco-friendly Solar Car

New Delhi, Sept 5, IRNA – India’s President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday flagged off a solar-powered passenger car developed by Delhi Technological University(DTU). 'With a speed of 120 km/hr, the solar car is a zero carbon emission and completely eco-friendly. It has a sedan shape with a seating capacity of two and option of adding three more seats,' a press release said. The body is made of special grade Matt Fibre in order to keep the solar car light in weight and performance oriented. Flexible modules of Mono crystalline solar silicon cells of 21.4% efficiency have been pasted all over the top of the body in order to entrap maximum solar energy. In all, 800 W is generated from the solar modules. The car, flagged off from Rashtrapati Bhavan, will represent India at the Sasol Solar Challenge to be held in South Africa between September 15-29. Solar cars from across the world will participate in the competition, which will cover 4,200 km along the coastline of South Africa. The DTU solar car, codenamed 'Solaris', is one of the most innovative projects of DTU, earlier called the Delhi College of Engineering. Speaking on the occasion Prof. P.B. Sharma, Vice Chancellor of DTU said that the future of automobiles in India lies in solar power and hybrid vehicles. He stated that DTU is firmly committed to empower India’s solar powered vehicles and solar power generation systems. The innovations in the area of Solar Car began with the University team designing the first Solar Car of India to participate in the World Solar Challenge organized in 2011 in Australia./end