By Manik Mehta
DRESDEN, May 11 (Bernama) -- Joseph Koh, the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) student who took part in last weekend's Shell Eco-Marathon Europe in Lausitz near here, said he would tour five European countries by bicycle, to spread the message on the importance of fuel efficiency.
The 29 year-old, who are pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering, said he would tour Italy, Austria, France, Switzerland and Germany over two weeks.
"I have been biking for many years and enjoy it. Since fuel efficiency is crucial in our lives, we should aim for zero-level emission (of gases)," he said in an interview with Bernama at Lausitz's EuroSpeedway in Lausitz where the eco-marathon was held.
Koh said he decided to participate in the Shell Eco-Marathon because the marathon, which emphasized on fuel efficiency, posed a challenge for him.
At Lausitz, he used a car that was designed at the UTM many years ago.
"For this race, we upgraded a two wheel bicycle to a three-wheeler, run by solar-powered cells. We did some modifications to reach speeds of 30km per hour. We added two solar panels to harness more energy from the sun and used lithium batteries for higher power density," he explained.
Koh said that his "life's ambition" was to build more of such vehicles.
"I am looking for an agency in fuel-cell technology which I would like to market in Malaysia. I am already negotiating with a Chinese company which is producing fuel cells in the form of toys for educational and scientific purposes in schools and universities," he said.
Koh had a dismal outing last Friday when the electrical system of his vehicle broke down and, as a result, the solar cell was disconnected because of heavy vibrations.
He experienced further disappointments on Saturday despite "some bright moments".
"Our battery-managed system encountered problems. We had to tow aside our vehicle and re-charge the batteries and then race again. However, in the final race, we had a good consumption rate for the engine and an efficient battery charge.
"We missed by four seconds and were disqualified, otherwise we would have had a good ranking in the solar energy racing group," he said, emphasizing that the marathon was not about being the fastest vehicle but the most fuel-efficient.
"Driving the vehicle taught me how to save on fuel. I also learnt - and hope others will too - that one should go easy on the gas pedal and thus achieve an optimum result."
A team from Lycee Louis Pasquet Arles of France won the solar-powered vehicle event when it recorded 665km per kilowatt-hour.
Asked if he would participate in next year's Shell Eco-Marathon Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Koh, who did not bat an eye-lid, replied, "Yes, of course."
"I may even work as a team manager for a Malaysian team and encourage more Malaysians to participate in that event next year. I may have lost the marathon in Lausitz but I am very passionate about fuel efficiency and conservation. This event is a good training ground for young engineers and students who can hone their skills and techniques," he said.
-- BERNAMA
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