Mataram, University of Mataram – University of Mataram (Unram) officially released a team of students to participate in the prestigious Shell Eco Marathon Asia Pacific and The Middle East 2024. The release ceremony which took place on Tuesday (2/7) at the Unram Rectorate yard was led directly by the Rector of Unram, Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D.

The Shell Eco Marathon Asia Pacific and The Middle East 2024 competition will be held from July 2 to 6 at Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit. In this competition, a team of students from Unram known as Mandalika Desantara will compete to design and build an electric car or Electric Vehicle (EV).

The Mandalika Desantara team consists of 15 students from the Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Study Programs, Faculty of Engineering, Unram. The team is led by Fransiskus Yusdwi Benoit Toding, a Mechanical Engineering student who also acts as the team manager.

In his interview, Fransiskus shared the team’s experience in the process of making the vehicle. “So in the process of making this vehicle, we as a team that became one, the Mandalika Desantara team, used a lot of ideas and our expertise from each study program. We are divided into two study programs, Mechanical Engineering Study Program and Electrical Engineering Study Program. We really struggled to make this vehicle, but we also had difficulties in making the drive system because we used an EV or Electric Vehicle,” he said.

Fransiskus also added, “We were overwhelmed, but with the support of the rectorate, lecturers from study programs and faculties, we were able to do it all. What makes us excited to participate in this event is because we are very interested in vehicles that can be categorized as energy-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles. Where Shell Eco will make a vehicle that wants to find energy saving vehicles.”

At the end of his interview, Fransiskus expressed his hopes for the future, “For the future, we hope that we can participate in this event again, because this activity is held every year, especially in Asia.”

Unram Rector, Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D., in his speech, expressed his pride for the Mandalika Desantara team. “I am very proud of the passion and dedication shown by our student team. This competition is not only an opportunity to show their engineering skills but also to raise the name of Unram in the international arena. I hope they can achieve the best results and bring home pride for all of us,” he said.

The Shell Eco Marathon Asia Pacific and The Middle East 2024 competition is a place for students to show their ability to design energy-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.