Around the World All Solar Car at GCC Feb. 10
WHAT: Solar-powered car setting world record at Glendale Community College WHEN: 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 WHERE: Glendale Community College, Central Mall, 6000 W. Olive Ave., Ariz.VISUALS: Cool solar sports car, German student design team (fluent in English), local college students and Green Efforts displays
PARTICIPANTS: Public invited. Each receives a raffle ticket to win a ride in the car and a Facebook contest will net merchandise including an iPad 2.
BACKGROUND: • A solar-powered car sponsored by SolarWorld, one the largest U.S. solar manufacturers for more than 35 years, this week began the United States leg of its 21,000-mile quest to circle the globe, propelled only by sun's rays.
• This event is part of ongoing activities and actions since GCC President Irene Kovala signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment in 2011 to reduce carbon emissions by college. GCC is a finalist in the 2012 Second Nature Climate Leadership Awards.
• The SolarWorld Gran Turismo a collaboration between SolarWorld and Bochum University of Applied Sciences in Germany, is a two-seat sports car powered by roof-integrated solar panels.
• Driving the GT's circumnavigation of the planet are 10 members of the German college student team that designed the vehicle.
• This first for a sustainable automobile could be a "Guinness Book of World Records" for the longest distance covered by a solar car.
• The SolarWorld GT began its trans-world journey in Australia and New Zealand October 2011, covering more than 3,100 miles before shipping to America in December. Following the U.S. leg, the vehicle and its crew travels through Europe, Africa and Asia before finishing in Australia in late 2012.
CONTACTS: Joan Westlake, GCC College Advancement Joan.westlake@gcmail.maricopa.edu cell 480-262-8077 www.gccaz.edu
Devon Cichoski, Media Relations Manager SolarWorld Americas Office: 805-388-6388 Mobile: 805-377-2905 Devon.Cichoski@SolarWorld-USA.com
