The Swiss Embassy rejected the visa applications of both the host and the candidate. Eventually, Bangladesh’s only Formula Student racing car Club Crack Platoon of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) had to be satisfied with the eighth position by participating in the online site competition of ‘Formula Student’ only.
Even though, they could not compete onsite, but they had to participate in three tests by joining online. 14 members of Crack Platoon participated in the two-day competition held on July 5. They stood 10th in Engineering and Cost and Manufacturing exams and 4th in Business Plan Presentation. All in all, their EV (Electric Vehicle) ‘CP E23’ has been placed eighth in the Smart Vehicle System competition.
22 teams from 12 countries competed in the competition with Crack Platoon, and the RUET team has been selected as the only team in Asia to pass the test.
For the competition, 23 of the 58 members of the Crack Platoon jointly built the ‘CP E23’ electric vehicle using local and eco-friendly materials. Team captain Sheikh Twaki Tahmid informed that the car complies with the Formula Student rulebook. The vehicle uses a 5 kW motor powered by a 72-volt lithium ferro phosphate battery. They were able to run 120 km per hour in the test. Now the aim is to hoist the Red and Green flag in the Poland competition to be held on August 27-30. However, the money to send the car to Poland has not yet been raised. The team has been looking for sponsors to fund their own travel as well.
Now, the team eyes to establish Bangladesh as an innovative country in the automobile sector in the world by making commercial EVs. The members of the team want to snatch a new victory in the post-independence Bangladesh with the immense power as the Crack Platoon did during the liberation war.
It is worth noting that, the Formula One Student Competition for Smart Vehicle System Development from Alternative Energy Sources has been taking place since 1979. The first competition was organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers.
