19 January,2009 11:46 AM IST | | Shlok Kumar
Car-sevaks: The winning team at the auto expo
Engineering students create prototype of fuel-efficient car using lawn mower engine
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Students of RV Engineering College have designed the prototype of a car which travels 500 km on just a litre of petrol.u00a0
The prototype, which is actually the second version, was displayed at the auto expo last week along with the first model called Garuda.
"It took us four months to go from concept to design during which we got the chassis and the engine ready. The entire assembly however was completed in a record 3 days," said Bharat Sharma, leader of Project Garuda.
"The auto expo was a good platform for us and we decided to work day and night to finish it," said Sarath Chandran, a team member.
What engine?
The 15-member team had used a modified 100cc Honda lawn mower engine for the first prototype which managed to achieve 180 km on one litre of petrol.
The team has further modified the car.u00a0
"We got a cylinder head modified it to allow optimum combustion of fuel. We also used multiple spark plugs, and an fuel injection system controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU)," Bharath said.
The team also had professional assistance for the electronic systems and engine design.
"Our aim is to make people environmentally aware and reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles. It will be hard to convince people but we are following in the footsteps of our seniors," he said
In fact Project Garuda had participated in prestigious Shell Eco Marathon event in UK making it the first Indian team to do so.
They plan to take the prototype to the SAE Super mileage competition to be held in Michigan, USA.
