Solarvest Borneo Sdn Bhd (Solarvest), Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus (Swinburne Sarawak) and the Centre of Excellence for Technology (CENTEXS)
Sarawak, through their collaborative Team Green Gear-H, have achieved a remarkable fourth-place finish at the Shell Eco-Marathon Asia Pacific & Middle East (SEMA) 2024, marking a first for Malaysia.
SEMA 2024 held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in Lombok, Indonesia, from July 2 to 6, 2024. The competition aims to construct the most energy-efficient ultra-lightweight car, provides an invaluable platform for high school and university students to demonstrate their skills in design, technology, engineering, and project management.
Team Green Gear-H is the first Malaysian team to pass the rigorous technical inspections at SEMA. Competing against over 80 teams from 11 countries, including China, India, and Indonesia, they secured fourth place in the hydrogen fuel cell prototype category with a remarkable fuel efficiency of 185 km/m³.
The team’s success is a testament to their exceptional engineering capabilities, demonstrated Malaysia’s potential in the field of sustainable transportation. The innovative vehicle drew inspiration from the side profile of a bird in flight.
Its lightweight design is key to its efficiency, and features the largest single piece of carbon fiber made in Sarawak. This is the only hydrogen powered vehicle fully designed and built in Sarawak, with its locally-produced carbon fiber bodywork crafted using advanced techniques like carbon fiber textile and resin layup, and its curing done by vacuum infusion.
Sponsored by Solarvest, the team comprised students from Swinburne Sarawak’s Faculty of
Engineering, Computing and Science, and the Faculty of Business, Design and Arts. Each memberbrought their unique skills and dedication to the project, guided by Project Chief Advisor Ts. Dr. Muhammad Rafiq Mirza Julaihi and distinguished academics in mechanical and electrical engineering.
On behalf of the Team, Dr Muhammad Rafiq extends his gratitude to the sponsors: “We are immensely grateful for the support and contributions from all our sponsors. Their unwavering and continuous support of team Green Gear-H not only help the team apply the knowledge and skills acquired to real-world situations but have also garnered recognition from industry experts who serve as judges in the competition.”
