Pinoy solar car catches fire in Australia

Sikat II, the Philippine entry to the biennial World Solar Challenge (WSC) in Australia, caught fire late afternoon in Tennant Creek as its handlers were settling down for the day. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and Team Solar Philippines remains hopeful of completing the race. According to Harold Geronimo, the PR manager of Team Solar Philippines, the team had already called it a day and settled down at the designated checkpoint in Northern Australia's Tennant Creek when one of the car's batteries apparently overheated and burst into flames at around 3:45 p.m. (2:15 p.m. Philippine Time).

Tennant Creek firemen cordon off the still-smoking Sikat II. Team Solar Philippines

There were no injuries, according to Geronimo, because Sikat II had already been parked and was recharging at the time. The team, including the driver, were a safe distance away. Firemen from the Tennant Creek Fire Department quickly put out the flames and cordoned off the area to avoid possible contamination from the toxic chemicals that spilled out of the ruined battery. Geronimo said that the extent of the damage has yet to be fully assessed, but there seems to be no damage to the car except for its battery. The car's solar cells appear to be in working order, with only minor fire damage to the body, he added. In a press statement issued at around 5 p.m. Philippine Time, Team Solar Philippines said, "We will be evaluating the possiblity of replacing the battery pack after the WSC organizers gave us the option to continue the race." Since its departure from the starting line in Darwin two days ago, Oct. 16, Sikat II had been making excellent progress. By the time it arrived in Tennant Creek earlier Tuesday (Oct. 18), it had already passed six other cars and was in 18th place just behind the entry from the United States' Massachussetts Institute of Technology. Sikat II was preparing to slip past the MIT team the next day, if not for the unexpected fire. — VS, GMA News