Lopesan Melonares Golf
The Gran Canarian based Lopesan Meloneras Golf Club acquires
SolarDrive S2E for the first 20 out of a fleet of 60 new Club Car
Precedent
An article (in Spanish) on the case was brought in
ClubManagerSpain:
http://clubmanagerspain.com/the-news/996-los-coches-con-techo-solar-son-ya-una-realidad-muy-rentable-en-meloneras-golf.html
Translated into English:
SolarPowered golf cars is a profitable reality for
Meloneras Golf
Lopesan Meloneras Golf (Gran Canaria) has become one of the
first golf courses in Spain (and Europe) which has a fleet of golf
buggies with solar power roofs. The club director, Cameron Procter,
says the investment will pay off short-term and, furthermore, this
change is not only saving energy and time, but also an important
improvement of the club's image.
The substantial energy savings (estimated at 70% compared to
consumption of a traditional electric car) is one of the advantages
that the new buggies with solar roof give the Golf Meloneras
Lopesan, but not the only one. The roofs also extend the battery
life about four years, preventing its operation is degraded by the
use of electric charge and reduce CO2 emissions
significantly.
"For us, saving energy is important, but more important it
saves time as well as it emphasize our professional image and our
environmental stewardship" said club director, Cameron
Procter, who tells us that SolarDrive's solar power roof tops have
been applied to 20 of the 60 cars recently new Club Car Precedent
golf cars.
More efficient
That savings of time is important to Lopesan Meloneras Golf.
Procter tells that the SolarDrive powered golf cars can drive five
rounds of golf (90 holes) and the golf course without recharging.
This has a high value to the golf club, especially now, during high
season in the Canaries, where "we have about 220 players a day.
When the car is retuned after a round of golf it is quickly cleaned
and send out on the golf course again".
The roofs can be retrofitted to any golf car and SolarDrive even
has an alliance with Club Car, the world's largest golf car
manufacturer. The SolarDrive roof top looks aestechtically pleasent
on the golf car and must only be cleaned with a damp cloth.
The use of the vechile is exactly like any boogie besides the fact
that the batteries are constantly charging as long as there is
daylight.
The impression of the players
"Our customers have given very positive feedback. They feel
more comfortable knowing that the cars will not run out ouf
batteries as well as they greatly appreciate the environmental
aspects of driving a solar powered golf car. Lopesan Meloneras
Golf has obtained the ISO 14001 and strives to "use the best
products within the field of golf, and always doing their outmost
to limit the use of chemicals, irrigation, use recycled water as
well as always taking measures that respect the environment"
says Procter.
The Canary Islands is a great place to work with this type of
buggies, because "we have 355 days of sunshine."
