For commuters worried about rising fuel prices, greenhouse gas
emissions and the headache of finding parking, a compact solar-
powered vehicle may be the answer -- and could be on the market
within a year. "At a time when carbon emission reduction and
fighting global warming are top priorities of governments and
people, a wholly solar-powered car would offer a good
alternative for the green-minded," the car's research and
development team leader, Ay Herchang ( A prototype of the car
was inspired by the Apollo, a solar car Ay and a team at
National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences built to
compete in races such as the Australian World Solar Challenge
(WSC), the professor of engineering said. "As [our team] has
done quite well in the past 10 years at international solar car
races -- this year ranking second out of more than 50 cars at
the WSC -- we decided two years ago to broaden our advanced
solar technology applications and make a car for the consumer
market," he said. The WSC, which celebrated its 20