It’s called the Proton Green Mobility Challenge 2012 (PGMC 2012), and it’s set to take place this weekend at the Sepang International Circuit. The two-day event, jointly organised by Proton and Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM), will see whether the challenge to develop an environmental-friendly electric vehicle from a standard fossil-fuel powered car has been met.
Ten local universities are set to compete in the event, having transformed a regular Proton Saga into a full electric vehicle. Each car’s performance will be tested on the ability to go the furthest distance, quarter-mile acceleration, fastest time for two laps and Velocity Maximum (v-Max) in a series of challenges.
There’s not much information on the participants, though Bernama has reported on the Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) entry. Called the Saga Malaysian Electric Transportation Rover (Saga METROTM), the car is capable of a top speed of 140 km/h and has an operating distance of over 130 km on a single charge.
There’s also some TV coverage on UTM’s entry for the event, which is open to the public. Wonder what the project cars will introduce that something like the Saga EV, which we’ve driven in the UK, hasn’t already. We’ll be there to cover the PGMC, and will have more on it when the time comes. Stay tuned.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments on the Proton Green Mobility Challenge 2012 highlight a mix of support and skepticism, with many appreciating the opportunity for students to showcase their innovation and practical skills in electric vehicle development. Some commenters see value in university-led R&D, viewing it as essential for technological progress and industry collaboration, while others criticize the projects as superficial or not commercially viable, accusing some of being Lego-like or lacking real innovation. A few comments touch on the broader context of government spending and national development, expressing concern over the use of taxpayer money for such initiatives. Overall, sentiments range from encouragement of educational and technological efforts to criticism of perceived inefficiencies and the effectiveness of local R&D activities.