MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

Local Solar Vehicle Project

By

In a boost to the metro’s research capability into renewable energy, the Advanced Mechatronic Technology Centre (AMTC) and the Volkswagen Group/DAAD International Chair in the School of Engineering at NMMU, have initiated a solar vehicle project at the university.

The project will entail the design and development of a solar powered vehicle that will expose students across a range of study fields to conduct research into an exploding renewable energy market and build on the base of accumulated learning.

One of the objectives of the project is to compete in the biennial South African Solar Challenge event in 2012. The Challenge sees participants from all over the globe competing in a two-week race, driving solar-powered vehicles across South Africa.

While building the solar vehicle, NMMU engineering students will not only be exposed to the many facets of renewable energy and its various applications, but also have a green platform from which to conduct future research for post-graduate studies. The Solar Vehicle Project is a multi-disciplinary project, which will include students from engineering, business and arts.

The Volkswagen Group of South Africa has made a significant financial contribution to ensure the successful commencement of the project, as well as offering assistance with the sourcing of components required by the team.

VW Head of Production, Mr Tom Du Plessis says that renewable energy would play a significant role in the future of the automotive industry. “Innovation has been identified as a key driver in the manufacturing of e-platforms in the VW Group and assisting the local university to train students in this field contributes to knowledge generation,” he said.

Estelle Gathercole of the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC), Eastern Cape – a major contributor to the development of capacity building and energy platforms, including renewable energy at NMMU – said the alignment of initiatives and thinking to support greening technologies was essential to the development of the Metro as a hub for research and commercialisation in the field.

“The challenge is to adapt an existing approach to learning or doing business in a way that it supports innovation and R&D, specifically in the area of renewable energy. This project in particular, aims to develop competencies in engineers and other students to ensure that they are equipped with broader skills than that of just their specific disciplines,” Gathercole said.

A team of keen engineering students has already begun researching all aspects of the project and developing concept designs in preparation of the solar vehicle manufacture, Gathercole said.

Mr Sarel Schoombie (Director of the NMMU School of Engineering), Mr Tom Du Plessis (Head of Production at VWSA) and Ms Estelle Gathercole (General Manager of AIDC Eastern Cape) with a virtual model of the NMMU Solar Vehicle.
The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.