Powered by electrical car, IIT-B students all set to win the race

Low to the ground, with a sleek body and shiny metal parts, the formula one-style race car launched by students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) on Thursday, had all the trappings of a professional race car.

Low to the ground, with a sleek body and shiny metal parts, the formula one-style race car launched by students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) on Thursday, had all the trappings of a professional race car.

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Students claimed that EVo 1, as the car is called, is the first electrical race car built by students in the country.

Following the launch on Thursday, the car will be showcased alongside other student race cars at Formula Student, a competition in the UK in July. Previous cars built at the institute have all been fuel-powered cars.

IIT-B students decided to design an electrically-powered car this time with a view on sustainability. “We chose to build an electric car because that’s where the global industry is going,” said Prateek Sharma, a final year student and project manager of the IIT Bombay Racing Team.

The team, comprising 60 students from various departments, had previously built an all-terrain vehicle, which won multiple awards at a national competition in February. The EVo 1 was built with industry sponsorship at a cost of Rs15 lakh. The car can achieve a maximum speed of up to 115km per hour and weighs 280kg.

IIT-B students will be taking part in Formula Student after a three-year gap.