Solar-powered cars in Athens-Olympia rally
Eighteen vehicles, resembling nothing so much as outsized, black surfboards on wheels, will be on display in central Athens today ahead of the first-ever international solar car rally to be held in Greece. The single-seater cars, which run exclusively on electricity supplied by solar panels, are to cover over 800 kilometers (496 miles) between tomorrow and Friday in the Phaethon 2004 race that has been incorporated into the Cultural Olympiad series of events ahead of the August Games. The participants include vehicles built by universities in the US, Japan, Brazil, Taiwan and Greece. On Sunday, the cars will take part in a two-hour race at the old Hellenikon airport. On Monday, they will embark on a route taking in Patras, Olympia, Delphi and Itea, before returning to the capital on Friday. Today, the vehicles will be on display outside Zappeion Hall from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
