top of page

About Louis Palmer

1982, at school...

 

When Louis Palmer, an ordinary boy going to school in Lucerne, Switzerland, was 11 years old, his teacher told him about global warming. It was back in 1982, and Louis was hopeful that when he will be grown up, it won't be any more a problem, because he trusted that all adults and leaders will do the right thing to stop the emissions of greenhouse gases. Like many other people he believed that the leaders of the nations would support zero emission technologies like wind or solar energy, to save the planet.
1986, the dream...
 
But they didnt. In 1986 the first self-made solar cars were on the streets in Switzerland, but no manufacturer cared about the production of these vehicles. Instead new coal power plants and new petrol cars were built worldwide, in masses, and the pollution of our planet accelerated. Louis realized soon that the big companies had taken the world hostage. Wrong messages about global warming were created, saying that it was a natural "phenomena", and so the companies could continue selling their polluting technologies, and the necessary change in the society or in the industry didn't come. Louis designed his own solar car and dreamt of doing a world awareness tour with it. He dreamt to of a world with solar powered car, bicycles and environmental friendly technologies.

2007 Project "Solartaxi" started - around the world on solar power 

 

For many years, like many other people, Louis believed he couldn't do anything for the planet. But 20 years after his dream, while he was working as a teacher, he changed his mind and started to build his solar powered car. He had no idea how to do it, and no money at all, but he found the help of Swiss universities, sponsors and 200 entusiasts who helped him to realize his dream. He travelled 54000 km in 18 months across 38 countries, reaching through the media the attention of 770 mio. people worldwide with his simple message: "Yes, solutions are available, global warming can be stopped!" 

2008, Meeting UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and other leaders

 

On his way around the world, he played "taxi" for Statesmen, for Hollywood stars as well as for ordinary people. In New York, he met Ban Ki Moon, and this ride in the solartaxi appeared worldwide in newspapers and tv stations. Louis figured the leaders were all really concerned about global warming and understood the problem, and they all asked him to continue his job to inspire the people. Because it wasn't so easy for them to simply "push the button" for a better planet. They could only do it if they feel that the majority of people want the change. And that was not the case so far. So: People have to raise their voice and urge politicians to solve the energy and climate crisis. Without pressure from bottom-up, no change. People's movements play a key role in the change of this planet!

2010, Zero Emissions Race,
in 80 days around the world in electric vehicles

 

Already during his first world tour by solartaxi, Louis had started to invite people with newer battery vehicles to prepare for a new race around the world in 80 days, to raise awareness that solutions to stop global warming were available. 3 teams signed up with their prototypes, and together they could show to the whole world that it's possible to drive around the world with clean technologies, even in 80 days! The three vehicles started at United Nations in Geneva and finished at the same place, without major breakdowns.

2011, Champion of the Earth Award

 

In May 2011, Louis was awarded "Champion of the Earth" by United Nations Environment Programme UNEP, in the category "insspiration and action", for his two world tours with solar power. Representans of United Nations like Achim Steiner, head of UNEP, or Felipe Calderon, president of Mexico, urged him to continue his way, and the same evening Louis announced in the Natural History Museum in New York his vision of a WAVE, a people's movement with electric vehicles. 

bottom of page