CHICAGO (WBBM) - A Swiss school teacher who sees himself as an adventurer is more interested in passing gas pumps than in passing other cars.
WBBM's John Cody reports.
Louis Palmer, from Lucerne, Switzerland, is driving his "Solar Taxi" around the world. He's travelling 32,000 miles total visiting 40 countries on 5 continents.
He has about 6,000 miles left to go.
The solar taxi is a two-seat, three-wheeled auto which tows a solar array behind it which is good for about 60 miles per day. He says his car's batteries will carry it about another 200 miles in one day.
The car's speed tops out at 55 miles per hour but Palmer prefers to travel at 40 to boost mileage. He estimates it accelerates from 0 to 50 in about 20 seconds.
In all 26,000 miles, he hasn't used a drop of gas. He says his car lost only two days in 13 months to allow repairs.
Palmer says his ride is solar powered even though he stops to recharge the batteries from an electrical outlet. He says solar panels atop his Swiss home cover all the electricity he needs and pump the power into the electrical grid which he taps into as he travels around the world.
Palmer says solar cars in commercial production may have a rooftop solar panel for supplementary power, but main power will come from overnight charges at homes with solar panels on the roof.
He showed off his car at the Sears tower which is trying to link with environmental efforts as the building seeks a green certification with new approaches to power, water and light distribution through the building.
Palmer estimates power costs him $1 for every 100 miles travel to cover power used out of the local electrical grid or $2 per 100 miles to cover the cost of solar panels in the array which he tows in back.
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