Swinburne, Centexs showcase technical prowess at Sema with ultra-lightweight hydrogen fuel cell car

KUCHING (July 24): In a groundbreaking first, students from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) showcased their ingenuity and technical prowess at the prestigious Shell Eco-Marathon Asia Pacific and Middle East (Sema) 2024 in Indonesia recently.

The event was held over five days at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in Lombok, according to a press release.

“The competition’s goal was to construct the most energy-efficient ultra-lightweight car.

“This challenge provided an invaluable platform for high school and university students to demonstrate their design, technology, engineering, and project management skills,” it said.

Team Green Gear-H became the first Malaysian team to pass rigorous technical inspections and achieve an impressive fourth-place finish in the hydrogen fuel cell prototype category.

Competing against teams from Indonesia, China, India and Saudi Arabia, Green Gear-H demonstrated a remarkable hydrogen fuel efficiency of 185 km/m3.

Rising to the occasion, the collaborative team behind Green Gear-H was spearheaded by Dr Muhammad Rafiq Mirza Julaihi as project chief advisor.

The team also benefitted from the expertise of distinguished academics such as Dr Elaine Yeu Yee Lee, Dr Chong Kok Hing, and Dr Soon Kok Heng, who are experts in mechanical engineering, as well as Dr Hadi Nabipour Afrouzi who brought a wealth of knowledge in electrical and electronic engineering to the team dynamics.

Additionally, the multidisciplinary team comprised of students from Swinburne Sarawak’s Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, and the Faculty of Business, Design and Arts.

Key members of the team included team captain Ong Jian Mian, technical manager Divyessh Sivakumar, drivers Amirul Supian Tarmizi and Centexs alumni Harry Ejay Atit, as well as Ryan Liaw Tze Cherng, Eva Martha Reeta Unyat, and Yassir Bengouarhu Anguilet.

Each team member brought their unique skills and dedication to the project.

According to Muhammad Rafiq, the participation of Green Gear-H would not be possible without the generous support from sponsors.

“We are immensely grateful for the contributions from all our sponsors, and we want to acknowledge the support of our primary sponsor Solarvest Borneo Sdn Bhd, our diamond sponsors Sarawak Energy Berhad and SEDC Energy, as well as Yayasan Sarawak and Ibraco Berhad,” he said.

Solarvest executive director and chief strategy officer Leon Liew said Solarvest is committed nurturing people, preserving the planet, and fostering progress.

“Born and raised in Sarawak, I am deeply grateful for the supportive community that has shaped my journey. Our investment in talent and technology aims to advance human capital and improve the environment for future generations.

“We’ve considered the ESG impact in every investment. The achievement of this green hydrogen car signifies the potential for low-carbon transportation, which we believe will become a reality within the next few years, making a real difference in our lives.

“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,” he said.

Leading the Sarawak delegation at Sema 2024 was Deputy Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee who, during the event, emphasised the importance of collaboration between institutions and businesses.

“This competition demonstrates the recognition and elevation of Sarawakian’s expertise and skills at a global level,” he said.

Also present were Centexs chief executive officer Dato Syeed Hussien Wan Abd Rahman, Solarvest Borneo project director Joseph Koh I-Shen, Sarawak Energy general manager of Research and Development Dr Ng Sing Muk and senior manager Chai Yu Wun, and SEDC Energy chief operating officer Foo Kim Leong.

Sema 2024 saw the participation of 80 teams representing 11 countries including Saudi Arabia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, India, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Qatar, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.

Recognising the critical importance of fuel efficiency and sustainability in today’s world, Swinburne Sarawak is dedicated to equipping students with essential skills through its innovative engineering programmes.