Telangana hosts first-ever endurance test of electric buggies, designed by student engineers
Among the 47 qualified teams, two teams stood out BVRIT, Narsapur, Telangana, and Sri Vishnu Institute of Technology for Girls, Bhimavaram
image for illustrative purpose
Hyderabad: An endurance test of 47 electric buggies, developed by engineering students for the nationwide eBAJA SAEIndia 24 competition, took place on Saturday at Ramachandran Puram village, near BVRIT Narsapur on the city outskirts. The competition, held in the eBAJA category, aimed to provide students with practical learning experiences outside the classroom.
The event saw engineering students taking on the role of vehicle manufacturers, highlighting the importance of core branches of engineering. All Girls College, Sri Vishnu Institute of Technology in Bhimavaram, was declared the pride of Telugus.
The buggies, lined up for the endurance test, were flagged off by prominent figures including Sri K V Vishnu Raju, Chairman of Sri Vishnu Educational Society (SVES), Aditya Vissam, Secretary of SVES, Sanjay Nibandhe, Chairman of the Organising Committee for BAHA SAEINDIA 2024, and Dr Vohra from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and The Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) as Distinguished Visiting Professor.
Before the flag-off, the buggies underwent inspection by the technical team. The challenging terrain, featuring big pits, ditches, marshy ground, rubble, water, and various obstacles, tested both the drivers and the vehicles.
During the race, buggies that encountered issues were assisted by tractors, repaired by their teams, and got back into action, providing students with valuable hands-on experience. Among the 47 qualified teams, notable participants were BVRIT, Narsapur from Telangana, and Sri Vishnu Institute of Technology for Girls from Bhimavaram.
This marked the first time that a competition of this nature was held in Telangana and South India, hosted by BVRIT and organized by SAE India. A total of 71 teams from colleges across India participated, with 58 clearing technical inspection and 47 qualifying for the endurance test.
In a special awards ceremony, Mr Gopalakrishnan VC, Director of the Automotive and EV sector with the Govt. of Telangana, presented awards to the winners. The winning team of the 4-hour endurance competition included DY Patil College of Engineering, Akurdi; Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, Pune; and Sri Vishnu Institute of Engineering, Bhimavaram.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Gopalakrishnan VC highlighted Telangana's early adoption of the E-Mobility Policy, aimed at attracting investments and creating jobs. He also mentioned the Telangana Mobility Valley (TMV) initiative, emphasizing its role in making Telangana a competitive destination for manufacturing and engineering research and development.
Mr. Sanjay Nibandhe, Chairman of the Organising Committee for BAHA SAEINDIA 2024, expressed pride in India's technology adaptation. Sumantra B Barooah, Executive Editor of ET Auto, emphasized the event's celebration of engineering talent and the enduring importance of core engineering branches.
The six-day eBAJA SAEIndia 24 event will conclude with an HR Meet (job fair) on Sunday, facilitating placements for talented individuals. This event underscores the significance of practical learning experiences and the ongoing demand for core engineering skills.
