DUBAI // A team of Emirati engineering students have designed a car that could potentially travel up to 1,000kilometres on just one litre of fuel.
The lightweight vehicle is in its final stage of construction and will begin testing in the next two weeks.
It is the product of almost two years work by students at the Higher Colleges of Technology Dubai Men's College.
It will enter a race in July against similarly designed cars from around the world, including four other vehicles produced in the UAE.
"[Petrol] is not going to last forever," said Ahmad Khamis Alsuwaidi, one of the students behind the Men's College car.
"One day we're going to run out.
"So in terms of developing a local eco-car industry, it starts with us. We're the future of the UAE in this."
The students at Dubai Men's College will put their creation, named Eco-Dubai 1, to the test at Shell's Eco-Marathon between July 4-7 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The competition is based on designing a car that can travel the furthest on just one litre of fuel.
Students are allowed to use electricity, solar, or hybrid technologies to reach their goal.
The record for the longest distance travelled is held by students from France's Polytech Nantes University, who designed a car that travelled almost 4,900km.
The Higher Colleges of Technology's Abu Dhabi Men's College took part in last year's Asian leg of the event in Malaysia, and will re-enter this year.
In addition, the HCT's Al Ruwais College will also take part, alongside the American University of Sharjah and American University of Dubai.
Mr Alsuwaidi said far from competing against each other, students from different colleges have been sharing ideas.
"Everyone's just so excited to be taking part in this and representing our country," he said.
"It's amazing to be able to apply what we've learned in classes to a real-life project."
He said that Eco-Dubai 1 will begin testing in the coming weeks, first around the Men's College campus and then at Dubai Autodrome.
The vehicle is half a metre wide, two metres long and half a metre high.
It weighs about 25kg and fits its driver, Khalifa Awadh, "snugly".
Mr Alsuwaidi said that there were no plans to put Mr Awadh on a diet in order to maximise whatever advantage they could get from the lower torque.
"We don't want him to go much lower than 60kg," he said.
"He's light enough already."
mcroucher@thenational.ae
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Ticket prices
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Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
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Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
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● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
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Rating: 2/5
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