Petrol-electric-solar hybrid car for 80,000!!!; plus two student builds 3-in-one vehicle

KOCHI: The car made by Plus Two student Joswin Bijo, by assembling the machine and other parts of old vehicles, will run on petrol, battery and solar energy. Joswin, a science student of St Michael's Higher Secondary School, Pravithanam in Pala, had made a petrol car when he was studying in class 9. That car was converted into a hybrid. The car has two keys. One is for petrol mode and the other is for electric/solar mode.

The alternator with the engine will generate current during the run. Electricity will be obtained from the solar panels at the rear and the battery will be charged. The method of hybrid vehicles is to automatically switch to petrol once it reaches a minimum speed in electric mode. The uniqueness of Joswin's vehicle is that the driver can opt for petrol or electricity at will, avoiding this automatic change.

Joswin's car also features an electronic handbrake of the type seen in luxury cars. Just tapping the knob with a finger will do. The engine and other parts were purchased from a demolition site of vehicles. The chassis of the car was made by Joswin himself by welding an iron bar.

Joswin is the son of Businessman Bijo and teacher Jinsimol of Ramapuram in Pravithanam. Sisters: Jiah and Jane. Grandparents Jose and Kuttiamma are the people who encouraged Joswin.

Rs 80,000

Joswin says that the car can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h. It took an year to build and cost Rs 80,000.

Many inventions

Joswin has built an electric bike, a robot model, an incubator and a coconut climbing machine. The hybrid car was noted at the sub-district science fair and the Physics 3.2 exhibition at St Thomas College, Pala.

"I wish to study mechanical engineering. I want to be a pilot."

-Joswin