Undergrads design solar-powered sharing auto

Vignan University in Vadlamudi has placed itself on the innovation map. The university’s final year students of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), under the guidance of their faculty, developed a 100 per cent solar powered motor vehicle. The vehicle is totally pollution-free and can carry seven people.

The solar powered vehicle will be used within the university campus to popularise the concept of clean and green energy-solar energy. The team of students, faculty and engineering personnel jointly worked to develop the innovative vehicle, which looks attractive and bodily strong with iron fittings.

Dr Durga Sukumar, head of the EEE department, Vignan University, said, “The staff and students were motivated to design and make a 100 per cent pollution-free vehicle. It cost the team just Rs 80,000.”

Solar panels are installed on the roof of the vehicle. The vehicle, while running on the road, can draw energy from sunlight and function throughout the day. If the concept kicks off, lot of precious fuel can be saved and pollution levels, especially in cities, can be minimised.

The idea is to popularise the use of solar energy at domestic and industrial levels. The innovators are planning to make five more vehicles which will be used by the university. The chairman of the Vignan group, Dr Lav Ratthaiah, launched the vehicle and drove it around the campus.

University vice-chancellor Dr P Purushottam, registrar Dr MS Raghunatahan, dean (research and development) Dr Srinivasulu, academic dean Dr Sitharamanjaneyulu and finance officer R Sambaiah congratulated the team.