The cars running on the track may have been representing India, the Philippines and Malaysia but there were more cheers and applause that day for Pakistan from the spectators gathered to watch the Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2018.

Pakistan was one of the 18 countries participating in the Eco-marathon, which was a part of Make the Future Singapore, a festival of energy-saving ideas and innovation for Asia last week. As many as nine teams from engineering colleges and universities here had entered their self-built ultra-energy-efficient futuristic cars in the competition. They included the Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS) and the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad.

The two main categories that they could enter in were: Prototype (futuristic and highly aerodynamic vehicles) and Urban Concept (highly economical and innovative vehicles that resemble the cars we see on our roads today). The cars in both categories could be run on an internal combustion engine, gasoline, diesel, ethanol, battery-electric power or hydrogen fuel cell.

A team of engineering students from Pakistan won hearts at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2018 by helping their competitors

NOT JUST THE MECHANICS

The road to Singapore was not an easy drive for the student teams. Be it in Asia, America or Europe where this annual competition is also held, the teams are expected to raise their own funding for building the vehicles. They do this by marketing their products. So while there are some team members working on the mechanics and design of the vehicle, there are others who are gathering funds to pay for all that as well as their trip to the competition.

If they won, there was a 3,000 US dollars prize for their institutions. There were also several off-track awards where students were recognised for things such as communications, technical innovation, design, safety and perseverance.

To save on transportation money, the team representing GIK Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology had an urban concept car named Spirit, which could be disassembled completely. In fact, Haider Jan, a final-year student of mechanical engineering, said that they brought their car to Singapore in pieces. “The other cars came in single big boxes, which amounted to huge cargo costs. But our car came in three boxes, which helped us save on transportation costs,” he said.

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

All cars had to pass a detailed technical inspection before they were called on to the track to see how far they could go on the least amount of fuel.

And that was where hearts were broken. Cars were tested for brakes to ensure they did not roll backwards on an incline, they had to have the allowed turning radius, include seatbelts, etc. One could feel the stress in the student paddocks as they frantically went about making adjustments and fixing things after the technical inspector had scrutinised the models. The cars were also being weighed, with their drivers inside, on a weighing scale in one corner.

“We weigh the cars with their drivers in complete racing gear. For prototype vehicle drivers, the minimum weight is 50kg and for urban concept car drivers it is 70kg,” said Colin Chin, the technical inspector. “That’s why many drivers here are female, who weigh less,” he pointed out.

Salaar Ahmed, a third-year student of mechanical engineering at NUST and the driver for their urban concept gasoline car, Peregrine, said that he had recently recovered from influenza due to which he had lost a lot of weight. “I came down to 69.4kg from 72.6kg, which is an ideal weight for drivers,” he said. “But my teammates think I can go down further, which will make our car run even faster. That’s why they are offering me laxatives now,” he laughed. “But I keep reminding them not to deprive me completely of energy to let me drive our car at least.”

THE BEST GIFTS

Meanwhile, as the student teams prepared their cars for final inspections there was NUST Islamabad’s Team Eco-motive working diligently on their other car, the prototype car, Whisper, which was being held back for one thing or the other by the technical inspector. When it became clear for them that going on the track was not happening for them, they remained engaged in the competition in another way.

Thanks to the students from Pakistan, the Indian team had a car on the track. And running on NUST’s engine their car won the Communications Award. There were loud cheers from the spectators for not just the winner of the award but also for the big-hearted team from Pakistan.

Team 520 DTU Super Mileage from Delhi Technology University in India was facing issues with their prototype engine. Team Eco-motive from Pakistan donated their engine to them. Thanks to the students from Pakistan, the Indian team had a car on the track. And running on NUST’s engine their car won the Communications Award. There were loud cheers from the spectators for not just the winner of the award but also for the big-hearted team from Pakistan.

Besides their efficient engine, the NUST team also gave away their tyres, battery and other vehicle parts to help 20 other competing teams. Team Atlas Valor from the Philippines needed tyres and tubes, which NUST gave them. Another team from Malaysia were happy to get spare tyres from them. Al Faisal University from Saudi Arabia needed technical help and the Pakistani students were glad to assist them. They also gave away some of their tools and hot-air gun.

The charitable team even put up a sign telling teams to help themselves to their tools after signing on a paper they had left in their stall.

Later, when the teams helped by the Pakistanis cleared inspection to reach the track they had NUST Eco-motive stickers on their cars. Some five of Pakistan’s nine teams also made it to the racing track but could not win anything. Still the team which itself failed to qualify, NUST Eco-motive, won the Perseverance and Spirit of the Event Award. They got the loudest applause without even competing.

The writer is a member of staff
She tweets @HasanShazia

Published in Dawn, EOS, March 18th, 2018