Dhulikhel, Dec 29: A group of undergraduate students from Kathmandu University in Nepal is set to participate in the Formula Bharat 2024, an Indian student-level Formula 3 electric vehicle race. The six-day event, scheduled to begin on January 19 at Kari Motor Speedway in Tamil Nadu, India, will see 31 students from Team Urja showcasing their prototype racing car.

Team Urja comprises students in their third and fourth years of electrical and mechanical engineering. This marks their debut in the eighth edition of Formula Bharat, an engineering design competition where students compete with life-size formula-style vehicles.

The competition covers various aspects, including engineering design, overall cost, marketability, and dynamic performance. It mirrors the global student Formula series held in approximately 11 countries each year, aiming to provide practical experience while applying engineering theories.

Team Urja is working on a Formula 3 electric vehicle to demonstrate the potential of green energy in Nepal. The project, costing approximately Rs3.43 million, involves designing and building a formula-style electric race car. The team has already created a prototype and is in the process of importing chassis and other parts for assembly.

However, funding remains a challenge for Team Urja. While Kathmandu University has contributed around Rs400,000, the team is actively seeking sponsorships and donations from automobile dealers and banks. The team emphasizes cost efficiency, aiming to build the same car as Indian participants but at a lower cost.

The objective of the race is not only to showcase technical skills but also to present a comprehensive business model, demonstrating the potential for the prototype race car to be a lucrative business opportunity.

If successful, the winning team will receive a cash prize of INR25,000 and the opportunity to participate in a student-level F3 Formula car race in Germany. The proposed electric race car is expected to have a maximum speed of 100 km per hour.

Bim Prasad Shrestha, the supervisor of Team Urja and a professor of mechanical engineering at Kathmandu University, expresses confidence in the students’ abilities. The project is set to take six months to complete, including a demo in Nepal before the actual race.

This initiative follows the participation of Kathmandu University students in the Shell Eco-Marathon as Team Junkiri, where they developed vehicles operating on internal combustion engines to achieve high fuel efficiency and contribute to the global goal of reducing carbon emissions.