An Indian youth, studying in Australia, has won the prestigious ‘Wheels Australian Young Designer of the Year 2007’ award instituted by leading motor magazine ‘Wheels,’ for designing an eco-friendly and futuristic car of 2017. The challenge was to design a three-seater vehicle within two months, aimed at customers in the year 2017, keeping in mind the depleting fuel reserve and the stress on environmental-friendly vehicles.
Harsha Ravi (21), who is on a holiday, that his ‘Globetrotter’ was selected out of 17 entries, in view of its “functionality, environmental sustainability, visual and emotional appeal and safety aspects.” The award would entitle him a fully paid three-month internship with General Motors’ North American Design Studio in Detroit next year. He would also be a part of an international team of students participating in an advanced design project for GM.
This young genious was born and brought up in Chennai before his family moved to Australia in 1977, said his futuristic car will be created from 88 per cent corn-based plastic, which reduces energy needed to manufacture panels by 30 per cent, and 12 per cent petroleum-based plastic. He had also conceived zinc air fuel cell, nano paper battery and airless tyres, besides designing nanopaints to absorb solar energy when the car is parked, to charge its batteries.
Via: Rambodocwordpress
