SWISS teacher Louis Palmer aims to be the first man to travel across the world in a solar-powered car.

Mr Palmer, 35, a secondary school teacher, has dubbed his vehicle the 'Solar Taxi'. He wants to show people what can be done to combat climate change.

He built the electric vehicle from scratch.

He began his journey on Tuesday from the city of Lucerne in Switzerland and is due in Singapore by the end of the year.

His three-wheeled Solar Taxi is an environmentalist's dream. It leaves no carbon footprint - a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide given out through
the burning of fossil fuels.

Mr Palmer's journey in the vehicle, which can reach a maximum speed of 90kmh, will cover five continents and 50countries.

He is expected to clock more than 50,000km over 16 months. His journey starts and ends in Lucerne.

The car is completely solar-powered, with half of the energy needed provided by 6sq m of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells.

These cells, which convert sunlight into electricity, are installed on the car's 5m-long trailer.

The other half of the car's energy needs will be supplied by various power outlets during the journey.

Whatever electricity drawn this way in foreign places will be compensated for by a solar system installed on the roof of the Swisscom (Switzerland's leading
telecommunications company) building in Koniz, which feeds the electricity generated back into the power grid.

Speaking to The Straits Times on Tuesday, before embarking on his journey, Mr Palmer said the project fulfilled a 20-year-old dream.

"I've wanted my own solar car since I was 14, and about three years ago, I started to really make it happen," he said.

With the help of universities, including the University of Lucerne, and sponsors from Germany and Switzerland, Mr Palmer raised 200,000 euros
($415,000) for the project, including the cost of the car and travelling around the world.

Noting that there are many sceptics about global warming, he felt his mission is to spread the word that climate change can be dealt with.

He has done a test run with a friend. They took the Solar Taxi for a 3,000km test drive from Lucerne to Barcelona, Spain, through the Alps, and it was smooth sailing, he said.

"This is a clean mode of transportation. You can go about your daily life with this car.

"It's time we showed the world that we have the solutions to global warming. We don't have to keep waiting," he said.

Joining Mr Palmer on Solar Taxi's first few kilometres is Dr Bertrand Piccard, 49, who is known for being part of the first duo to fly around the world in a hot-air balloon in 1999, with Englishman Brian Jones.

Dr Piccard is a psychiatrist and grandson of explorer and pioneer aeronaut Auguste Piccard, who was known for exploring the earth's stratosphere, reaching record altitudes in a pressurised cabin/gondola.

He intends to carve out his own place in history by flying the first solar-powered aircraft around the world.

Construction of the plane, called the Solar Impulse, has begun, and it will be made from light but strong carbon fibre.

The plane will weigh only 1,500kg and have a giant wing-span fitted with solar panels stretching some 80m.

Dr Piccard told The Straits Times that the more solar projects the world sees, the greater the awareness about global warming and its solutions.

"We need to encourage more innovation in this area," he said.

Solar Impulse will make its first test flight next year, and is estimated to cost 70 million euros when completed.

Meanwhile, Mr Palmer's first destination on the Solar Taxi is Germany, after which he will go on to the Czech Republic and then to Turkey.

To travel between the continents, he will drive his taxi onto ferries, which will transport him across the oceans when necessary.

It will not be a rough ride though.

His Solar Taxi comes complete with luxurious leather-covered seats and an MP3 sound system.
Commenting on his planned stint in Singapore, he said: "I've heard that the solar industry is growing in Singapore. I look forward to visiting the country."

Mr Palmer will record his journey's progress via a blog www.bluewin.ch/solartaxi. For more information, readers can go to www.solartaxi.com