​6th Malaysian Chem-E-Car Competition 2011 (17 Mar 2011)

The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) has organised the 6th Malaysian Chem-E-Car Competition 2011 on 17 March 2011 at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak. The event was officiated by YBhg Dato’ Prof Dr Chuah Hean Teik, President of IEM, in the presence of YBhg Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Haji Kasim, Rector of UTP.

This competition was a good platform for students to demonstrate creativity and innovativeness in applying engineering knowledge outside the classroom.  It was also aimed to encourage engineering undergraduates to look at alternative ways to fuel and power the vehicles with the following objectives:-

• To cultivate student’s creativity, innovative concept and novel idea in designing chemical fuelled model car.
• To encourage students to learn and appreciate the importance of team cooperation and collaboration among members who are from different majors and disciplines.

A Chem-e-Car is a model car with a propulsion system which is either a chemical cell or fuel cell. The power that is required to drive the model car must be generated or converted from chemical energy. Commercial batteries and fuel cells are nevertheless not allowed in the competition.The winner will be chosen based  on the best team that could construct a car fuelled and stopped by chemical reactions given certain water load and distance. The students had to apply their knowledge in reaction kinetics, mechanical systems, circuitry and other technical skills to design and test the car.

The competition comprised of two sessions whereby the first is a poster presentation. Participants were given 10 minutes to present their model cars and describe the propulsion system as well as the innovative and creative ideas they had made in areas such as propulsion system, safety, environmental issues, efficiency etc.

This was then followed by the model car competition where each team would be given two (2) attempts to be determined by the organisers. The team whose model car ended nearest to the end line wins the competition.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Thousand Sunny) won the 1st Place in the ChemE Car performance category and brought home cash prize of USD 1000. The overall results are as follows:

ChemE Car performance:

1. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Thousand Sunny) - Prize - USD 1000
2. Universiti Teknologi Mara (Boys Over Flower)  - Prize – USD 700
3. SEGI University College (Future Rator) - Prize - USD 500
    

Special Award

1. Universiti Teknologi Mara (Boys Over Flower)
   Prize – RM500

Consolation for Special Award

1. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Zexer)
2. Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (PRIMAX 2)

A total of thirty-one (31) teams from 14 local and foreign universities participated in the competition.  The universities were:

• Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) • Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
• University Malaya (UM) • Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS),
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) • TATI University College (TATIUC)
• Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) • Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)
• Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP)  • UniKL MICET
• Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) • Taylor’s University College
• SEGi University College • Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya

AP Dr Hilmi Mukhtar, Director of Undergraduate Studies of UTP who delivered the prizes to all winning teams in his closing speech said, “The conventional sources of fuels are expected to decrease year by year and before these resources are gone, we need to search for new alternatives.  From this competition, we hope to see more ideas towards this green alternative from our young engineers”.

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