World tour of solar-powered vehicle underway
A solar- and wind-powered vehicle has set off on a tour around the world from the Swiss town of Yverdon to promote environmentally-friendly initiatives.
The 520kg vehicle, which can reach maximum speeds of 90km per hour, left the western Swiss town on Saturday and will visit about 30 countries by October 2011.
The trip will first take the team of two environmentalists to Italy, Tunisia and Morocco, according to the leader of the Icare (Icarus) project, Marc Muller.
The aim is to boost sustainable development, including mechanisms used to compensate for CO2 emissions.
The project, a non-profit undertaking which is supported by more than a dozen partners, costs about SFr500,000 ($441,300).
swissinfo.ch and agencies
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