Solar-powered car demonstrated

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, AUG. 15. Four students of the R.V.College of Engineering have designed and successfully demonstrated what might be India's first solar-powered electric car.

Calling themselves ``TeamSPEC'', the four students, Sachin Nalwa, Anand Ramprasad, Zubin Jagtiani and Yash Sehgal, developed the car after two years of work, helped by their teachers. The car was tested out on some City roads last weekend, clocking speeds of up to 70 kmph, they said.

The car, which weighs 650 kg, runs on an DC motor with a solar energy panel fitted on the rear half of the vehicle. It was built with help from BHEL engineers. The car had independent wishbone spring coils and a telescopic suspension in the rear and would cost 25 per cent less to run on the roads than other electric cars, they said.

The students said the car was more than a class project for them and they had to overcome many days of disappointments and frustration while developing it. They received a lot of help from Mr. Zarryl Lobo of Xtra Reinforced Plastics, Mr. Gurmeet Randhawa of Classic Replicas (the car has a 60s Jaguar body), and Mr. Ivan Richard of Fabetech Engineers, before the project took final shape.

``The car still needs some finishing touches but we are confident of exhibiting it at the Car and Bike Show on August 25 and 26,'' the jubilant students said.

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