Solar Taxi arrives at UN Climate conference after 17 months on the road

Swiss teacher Louis Palmer is nearing the completion of his round-the-world trip in a solar-powered vehicle. Palmer arrived at the UN Climate Change conference in Poznan, Poland last week in his solar taxi. The two-seat trike has completed 32,365 miles over the 17-month trek, running mostly on solar energy collected through a trailer covered in photovoltaic cells. Unfortunately, clouds limit the amount of energy that can be collected from the sun at times, so Palmer has had to plug in the taxi now and again. As for Palmer, he gets his energy by demonstrating the viability of solar power as a means of moving a car.

Palmer will spend this week at the conference demonstrating the taxi to attendees at the conference before he heads back to Switzerland to complete his trek. While Palmer's feat is pretty amazing, powering vehicles using direct solar power will likely not be a practical commercial alternative for many years to come. The size of the solar trailer needed just to power this little taxi (see a picture here) is not viable for mass adoption.

Geneva '08: Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept, ethanol, hybrid, solar and aero

Saab is giving the world a preview of their newest model with the 9-X BioHybrid that's debuting in Geneva this week. The new 9-X is a premium compact intended to compete against cars like the MINI. When this car does go on sale in the next couple of years the name will probably change to 9-1 in keeping with brands nomenclature where X typically describes an all wheel drive model and the second digit indicates the place in the size pecking order. As the concept's BioHybrid name implies, the little Saab carries forward the ethanol flex-fuel capability of most recent vehicles from the Swedish brand and adds hybrid functionality as well. The engine in the 9-X is a 1.4L turbo four cylinder that puts out 200hp. In a first for Saab, the engine is paired up with the next-generation GM Hybrid system which we'll have more about tomorrow. Efficiency is further enhanced by solar power and active aerodynamics. A photovoltaic panel embedded in the roof provides extra charging capability for the hybrid battery. Aerodynamics on small cars is always tricky as the airflow falls off the trailing edge of the roof. The 9-X tries to address this with active aerodynamics. A spoiler that wraps over the rearmost pillar and roof extends backwards when speeds get over 70km/h. The effect is further enhanced by a diffuser that comes out below the rear bumper. The two components increase the effective length of the car and help improve the airflow off the rear. The 9-X can accelerate from 0-100kph in 7.9 sec on E85 and 8.3 sec on gasoline. Carbon dioxide emissions come in at a low 105g/km on ethanol and 117g/km on gasoline. Fuel efficiency is 36.8mpg (US) on biofuels while each gallon of gasoline will take the 9-X 48 miles.