Louis Palmer introduces his solar-powered car to students and teachers at the Shanghai Community International School on Tuesday, May 13, 2008.

(2008-05-14 08:28:26 Shanghai Daily) A Swiss inventor drove his solar-powered car to a school in Shanghai on Tuesday as part of his global mission to raise awareness about protecting the planet.

"It's time for us to combat global warming and the petroleum shortage," Louis Palmer told students and teachers at the Shanghai Community International School.

The 37-year-old Hungarian-born teacher was in town as part of his 39-day China stop on his around-the-world initiative - the first time a solar-powered car has driven around the globe.

Palmer launched his solartaxi world tour on July 3 last year in Switzerland and is scheduled to run through 50 countries in five continents in 18 months, with China the 25th stop of the journey.

In Tuesday's presentation at the Hongqiao Campus of SCIS, coordinated by the Swiss Consulate General in Shanghai, Palmer drove his car for students and teachers around the campus. The environmentally friendly vehicle proved of great interest to the students and staff.

"What a cool idea," said Josh Balli, a United States teacher at SCIS, who particularly liked the three-wheeled design which looks quite different from ordinary vehicles.

He said it was important to promote environmental protection among young people.

Jenny Zhang, a Chinese teacher, said she expected the city government to expand the use of renewable energy and to reduce the city's air pollution level.

Palmer's car has two seats and three wheels, including a steering one that can be shifted to either side. It drags a big solar-panel-topped trailer which transfers solar power into electricity.

Since the electricity can be stored in car-bound batteries, the car can drive during the night with a range of up to 300 kilometers, Palmer said.

More importantly, the solartaxi doesn't produce any emissions or carbon dioxide.

It was designed and developed by four Swiss technical universities, with support from leading Swiss technology companies.

It can also be further upgraded to improve its practical use, Palmer said.

The 39-day China tour by the solartaxi, which started in Yunnan Province late last month, covers a total distance of 6,419 kilometers and will eventually reach Beijing.