•The FUPRE Team with the Delta Cruz.
Students of the Federal University of Petroleum
Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) in Delta State have put the
country on the global technology map when they
displayed their innovation at the Shell Eco Marathon held
at Zwartkorp Race Track in South Africa.
The event was hosted by the School of Electrical
Engineering of the University of Johannesburg to
enhance students’ innovative skills. Participants, who
are Electrical and Electronics and Mechanical
Engineering students, were challenged to design, build
and drive energy-efficient automobiles.
The FUPRE team held members of the audience
spellbound with their expertise, designing a lead-free
energy-efficient car named Delta Cruz. They won Shell
Unleaded Gasoline Prototype prize with a staggering
result of 55.9 km/l of fuel per litre. They also won the
Technical Innovation award.
The FUPRE Team beat 11 others to win the contest. Four
Nigerian universities, including FUPRE, participated in the
competition. Other schools are University of Lagos
(UNILAG), University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Ahmadu
Bello University (ABU).
The Delta Cruz has a speedometer of 29km/hour and a
dimension of 110 by 90 by 275 centimetre. Its
components were locally-sourced materials. Its tyres
were modified to move on smooth and rough surfaces.
Ms Augustina Ovuema, an Academic Technologist with
the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Engineering, praised the team for their achievement,
urging them to build on the performance.
The team leader, Efemena Ewhrudjakpo, a 400-Level
Electrical and Electronics Engineering student, described
the feat as deserving, saying the aim was to encourage
made-in Nigeria vehicle.
The Eco-Marathon is sponsored by Shell Petroleum
Development Company yearly to develop the innovative
skills of students and to promote use of eco-friendly
technology.
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