Rakata Team from ITB Develops Innovative Car Fueled by Ethanol
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id - A small car drove at the Sepang Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in July 2012. That said, this car is touted as the vehicle with the most efficient fuel in Indonesia at the time. By using pure ethanol as fuel, the car is able to travel a distance of 291 kilometers for every liter of ethanol consumed. So, who is automakers that address the challenges of energy saving in the middle of the world's energy needs are increasing nowadays?
The answer is Rakata team, a team involving twenty students from various majors at ITB. Rakata team is focused on designing future vehicles to be included in the competition Shell Eco Marathon Asia (SEM) which is held every year. Rakata established in 2011 and was a combination of the two teams, the Eagles and Exia representing Indonesia in the Shell Eco Marathon 2010.
Quoted from the website, Rakata mention that in addition to using alternative fuels, the automobile design also need to be able to consume fuel as efficiently as possible. That is, the car must be able to travel the farthest distance with the amount of fuel that is as small as possible. In designing the car, Tim Rakata choose pure ethanol as fuel because it is environmentally friendly. In 2011, the car that created Rakata team managed a distance of 244 kilometers per liter of ethanol consumed. in the next time, Rakata managed to break the record by creating a car with a mileage of 291 kilometers per liter of ethanol consumed.
Rakata's performance in Shell Eco Marathon Asia has gained many achievements. In 2012, the title of 2nd runner up in the category Class Prototype had achieved. The first title as the most efficient vehicle in Indonesia also successfully acquired. In 2013, Rakata able to get the first prize trophy for the category Shell Energy Student Challenge. In this category the participants are challenged to share their thoughts on how the world can meet the demand for energy in the form of infographics. By offering design of pure ethanol-fueled car, Rakata won the award with prizes worth $ 5,000.
Ready to Show Superiority in SEM 2014
A thick smoke that hit Malaysia some time ago cause Rakata team and other participants canceled SEM 2013 competition on track at Sepang Circuit. However, all participants are eligible to enter the next SEM competition. After doing various improvements and optimization, Rakata team expressed that his car ready to drive in the SEM 2014 Circuit held in Luneta Park, Manila at 6 to 9 February.
For the next SEM 2014, Rakata team will carry jaw clutch automated system as its superiority. This system is proven to improve the efficiency of the car as it can reduce the friction between the wheels and the engine. "When the car is in a state gassed, wheels and the engine will be connected through a clutch jaw serrations. Arise at this point that the inertial forces that cause discharge. When the way is down, the car does not need to be gassed and serrations that connects the wheels and the engine will be released automatically. Consequently, no power is out so that the efficiency of cars is increasing, "said M. Renaldi Anggalaksana (Mechanical Engineering 2010) as Chairman of the Technical Team Rakata. In addition to using jaw clutch automated system, the car is also improving the efficiency by reducing the mass of the car. One way is by using lightweight materials, ie, glass fiber and composite car body as building blocks.
Cars with a total weight of 70 kg using machines with injection system. The propulsion engine is the engine that has been discarded and replaced its transmission biring. Slot-owned car is an aerodynamic shape that losses due to friction between the car with the air can be reduced. Increasing the efficiency of the car is such a car is capable of causing a distance of 350 kilometers for every liter of ethanol consumed.
At last, this innovation is expected to trigger other students to participate in innovation and creativity. In addition, this car is also expected to be one of the bright spots in solving the energy crisis that is sweeping the world, especially Indonesia. Hopefully Rakata team match at Luneta Park Circuit in February 2014 to bring the good news and the name of Indonesia in the eyes of the world.
Annisa Mienda C.
ITB Journalist Apprentice 2013
Photo source : Rakata Team - ITB