New Tang Dynasty Television recently aired a feature on
the SolarDrive-equipped golf carts at the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau
Public Golf Course in Hong Kong. The story focuses on the
environmental policy of the course and their decision to invest in
SolarDrive equipment. Please click on the link below to watch the
video:
NTDTV.COM
Full text:
The Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course in Hong Kong
prides itself on its green credentials. It has the world's first
and biggest fleet of solar-cell powered golf carts. The SolarDrive
golf carts will also lead to substantial savings for the
club.
Cameron Halliday, The Jockey Club Kau Sai
Chau:
"We estimated that we would save 50-70 percent on power consumption
of the fleet... We anticipate that every year we'll save HK$400,000
(US$51,610) on the operation of the 205 car fleet. Those are
impressive numbers."
The SolarDrive project is part of a $45 million citywide
environment project in response to global warming and climate
change. The golf club estimates that the switch to solar power golf
carts will reduce carbon emissions by up to 30 tons per year.
David Powers, Golfer:
"Many more steps like this would be wonderful, address our air
pollution problem and make Hong Kong a much greater city than it
already is, so it's a very good step."
The SolarDrive has a solar-cell roof panel and is able to capture
and convert daylight into sufficient energy, even on cloudy days.
The cart charges while being driven.
William Yiu, Exec. Dir., Hong Kong Jockey
Club:
"So when the golf carts come back after an 18-hole day the charging
at night will still have to happen but it will be a lot less
requirement as far as the recharge is concerned. And having less
recharge every night, the battery actually runs a lot longer, so
from that perspective it's actually commercially viable."
The SolarDrive is more efficient and can out-perform
battery-powered carts.
The solar powered golf carts are also a hit with patrons.
Charles Regan, Golfer:
"It's a great idea. You've got plenty of sun and they can easily
run four hours very quickly, running through the course. I think
many golf courses should adopt the same thing. They're
fantastic!"
Earlier this year, the golf course received the 'Asian Golf Course
Environment Award'.
The project is collaboration between a Hong Kong university and
Denmark-based engineering company SolarDrive.
Courtesy NTD News
