KUCHING – In a groundbreaking first, students from the Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (Swinburne Sarawak) and the Centre of Excellence for Technology (CENTEX) Sarawak showcased their ingenuity and technical prowess at the prestigious Shell Eco-Marathon Asia Pacific & Middle East (SEMA) 2024. The event was held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in Lombok, Indonesia, from July 2 to July 6, 2024.
The competition’s goal is to construct the most energy-efficient ultra-lightweight car. This challenge provides an invaluable platform for high school and university students to demonstrate their design, technology, engineering, and project management skills.
Rising to the occasion, the collaborative team behind Green Gear-H was spearheaded by Ts. Dr. Muhammad Rafiq Mirza Julaihi as Project Chief Advisor. The team benefitted from the expertise of distinguished academics such as Ir. Dr. Elaine Yeu Yee Lee, Ir. Dr. Chong Kok Hing, Dr. Soon Kok Heng, who are experts in mechanical engineering, and Ir. Ts. Dr. Hadi Nabipour Afrouzi brought a wealth of electrical and electronic engineering knowledge to the team dynamics.
Additionally, the multidisciplinary team comprised students from Swinburne’s Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, and the Faculty of Business, Design and Arts. Key members of the team include Team Captain Ong Jing Mian; Technical Manager Divyessh Sivakumar; drivers Amirul Supian Tarmizi and CENTEXS’ alumni Harry Ejay Atit, as well as Ryan Liaw Tze Cherng, Eva Martha Reeta anak Unyat, and Yassir Bengouarhu Anguilet. Each team member brought their unique skills and dedication to the project.
According to Dr Muhammad Rafiq, the participation of Green Gear-H would not be possible without the generous support from sponsors. “We are immensely grateful for the contributions from all our sponsors, and we want to acknowledge the support of our primary sponsor Solarvest Borneo Sdn Bhd, our diamond sponsors Sarawak Energy Berhad and SEDC Energy, as well as Yayasan Sarawak and Ibraco Berhad.”
“Having been born and raised in Sarawak, I am deeply grateful for the supportive community that has shaped my journey. Our investment in talent and technology aims to advance human capital and improve the environment for the next generations. At Solarvest, we are committed to nurturing people, preserving the planet and fostering progress. We’ve taken into account the ESG impact on the construction and development of every investment. The achievement of this green hydrogen car signifies the great potential for low-carbon transportation, which we believe will become a reality within the next few years, making a real difference in all our lives,” said Leon Liew, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer of Solarvest.
“Their unwavering and continuous support of team Green Gear-H not only helps the team apply the knowledge and skills acquired to real-world situations but has also garnered recognition from industry experts who serve as judges in the competition,” he added.
A jubilant Team Green Gear-H celebrates advancing to the prototype phase of SEMA 2024.
Team Green Gear-H became the first Malaysian team to pass rigorous technical inspections and achieve an impressive fourth-place finish in the hydrogen fuel cell prototype category. Competing against teams from Indonesia, China, India and Saudi Arabia, Green Gear-H demonstrated a remarkable hydrogen fuel efficiency of 185 km/m3.
Leading the Sarawak delegation at SEMA 2024 was Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development, YB Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee. Also present were CENTEXS CEO, YBhg Dato Haji Syeed Hussien Wan Abd Rahman, Solarvest Borneo Project Director, Joseph Koh I-Shen, Sarawak Energy Berhad General Manager of Research and Development, Dr Ng Sing Muk and Senior Manager, Chai Yu Wun, and Foo Kim Leong, Chief Operating Officer SEDC Energy.
YB Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee emphasised the importance of collaboration between institutions and businesses. “This competition demonstrates the recognition and elevation of Sarawakian’s expertise and skills at a global level,” he said.
SEMA 2024 saw the participation of 80 teams representing 11 countries including Saudi Arabia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, India, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Qatar, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.
Recognizing the critical importance of fuel efficiency and sustainability in today’s world, Swinburne Sarawak is dedicated to equipping students with essential skills through its innovative engineering programs.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).