At the time when vehicle running on clean and green energy has become a global call, students of a city-based engineering college have build their first electric prototype vehicle. These students are gearing up to present their first electric vehicle prototype under the banner of their college ‘Team IAE Supermileage’ at the Shell Eco-marathon, one of the world’s leading energy efficiency competition programmes meant primarily for students.

With only two teams participating at the Eco-marathon from the Rajasthan region, Lavesh Kumar, an engineering student who doubles as a team manager and designer for the team, said that “We derive inspiration from our national flag and want to put forth a vehicle that can contribute towards the country’s larger dream of going electric by 2025. Beginning from the purchase of the body, to aerodynamics and the electric power train, our endeavour has been supported not only by the college but also we have received tremendous guidance from our seniors as well.”

Speaking of the preparation behind prototype, team IAE Supermileage said that their concept is based on a sedan chassis that will be powered by an electric drive train. In addition to this, to reduce the weight and in order to make their prototype aerodynamically efficient, they are using an aluminum chassis and reinforced carbon fibre.

During the Shell Eco-marathon students are challenged to design, build and test energy-efficient cars.

Participating college teams take their designs to the track in the ‘Mileage Challenge’ to see which vehicle can compete to go the farthest on the least amount of fuel. “With the rising cost of fuel and looking at the global trends that seem to soaring, demand for clean energy efficient mobility is inevitable. Energy demand for a surging India will only grow. Economic, societal and individual needs will be a key contributor to this demand,” Nitin Prasad, chairman, Shell companies in India, said.

The event will be held in Chennai from December 6-9, 2018. The winner will get Rs 20 lakh and the chance to fine tune his/her vehicle for the Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2019.