KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | “Solar Taxi World Tour” Rolls into Merced

“Solar Taxi World Tour” Rolls into Merced

By: Ashley Ritchie

Louis Palmer is on a mission. He's traveling across the globe in a solar-electric two-seat taxi to get his point across; that we can do better when it comes to how we travel the open road.

"First time in history a solar power car is driving around the world. This car is not using, not even a single drop of petrol," Swiss Adventurer Louis Palmer said.

Palmer made his way to the UC Merced campus Friday as part of his plan to get the ball rolling on environmentally-friendly vehicles.

"In every country where I am, I present these cars to the schools and I show it to the kids, the students. I tell them about solar energy, I tell them about advantages of this car because people don't know. They have to know than we can do better than the petrol cars," he said.

Palmer hopes his journey will help to turn around the way we think about gasoline and our consumption.

"I want to show people that we can be independent from petrol and we can stop global warming," he said

And students say they can definitely get on board.

"It goes fast. I was surprised. It looks really fun to ride in," Disney Andres, UC Merced student, said.

On a fully-charged battery, the Solar Taxi can travel about 200 miles at a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour. Palmer says it would only cost about $10,000; which leaves more money in your pocket.

"For driving around the world in a conventional car, I would've used $5,000 so far. But with this car, I didn't pay a single cent. I'm now 2/3 around the world, this is country 28 and I can spend my money for other things," Palmer said.

Palmer says the trailer holding solar panels attached to the car can actually go on top of a house, instead on the back of the car.

By the time the Solar Taxi travels the earth, it will have been to 40 different upon five continents.

The UC Merced School of Engineering sponsored the stop of the "Solar Taxi World Tour".