2010 winners - Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award
The Autocar-Courland Next generation Award once again invited students
from universities all over Britain to articulate their ideas to improve the automotive industry.
The six best were invited to present their ideas to a panel of industry experts, chaired by
Autocar’s Steve Cropley. The winner was chosen only after rigorous day-long deliberations
that include a 30-minute presentation by each entrants, followed by panel questioning.
The winner, announced at the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders’ annual dinner in central London,
will be rewarded with five months’ work experience provided by the competition’s impressive list
of automotive backers, plus a £7,500 cash prize.
The winner
Hari Meyyappan
Studying: MSc Automotive Systems Engineering Loughborough University
Title: Plug-in hybrid electric two-wheeler
Idea: Hari impressed judges with a
remarkably plausible proposal to produce hybrid conversion kits — at a retail
cost of $200 each — for India’s crop of 100cc scooters, which make up a significant portion of the 10 million a year, two-wheeled vehicles that pour onto the market. According to Hari’s calculations,
the plan has the potential to halve each scooter’s rest-of-life running costs.
If applied to just five percent of the 67 million two-wheeled vehicles sold in India between
2003 and 2010, it could cut CO2 emissions by a staggering 700,000 tons a year, and
save an astonishing 110 million gallons of fuel, 70 percent of it imported.
What the judges said
"Hari had taken great care to research his audience well and pitched his technical presentation accordingly. He answered questions articulately and impressed us with his all round ability." Andrew Didlick, Director of Communications, Peugeot Motor Company Plc
"Hari, like his fellow finalists, had a great idea and presented it well to the judges.
Hari has considered the whole project from conception to point-of-sale and had worked through all
of the elements to make a success of his concept, including the commercial aspects and the customer proposition.
Hari could literally change the way millions of people travel every day, particularly in crowded cities."
Christopher Walkinshaw, Business Development Director, Marshall Motor Group
The Finalists
Rishikirran Haridhas
Studying: MSc Automotive Engineering, University of Leeds
Title: Generation of electricity using the Engine Noise
Idea: Rishi proposed a system to generate electricity from
engine exhaust noise – a highly underestimated source of energy.
William Brown
Studying: Automotive Design, Coventry University
Title: The future of electric technology, the ultra capacitor
Idea: To power electric vehicles using ultra-capacitors in place of
standard batteries. This garners benefits in weight and in turn efficiency to
make them more economically viable for consumers.
The runners-up
Sanjaat Jain
Studying: MSc Automotive Engineering, University of Bath
Title: Light-Fission, Stirling Engine Powered Vehicle
Idea: Sanjaat had a imaginative but far-fetched proposal to use
a Stirling engine powered by light metal fission to generate electricity to power an electric car.
Michael Andrea
Studying: MEng Mechanical Engineering, Nottingham University
Title: Shape Memory Alloys - What, How and Why.
Idea: Michael proposed the use of 'shape memory alloys'
to change the proportions,
according to temperature for dynamic control or aerodynamic efficiency.
Hamish Lowdon
Studying: MEng Mechanical Engineering, Durham University
Title: Driver aids for more efficient, environmentally-friendly driving
Idea: Hamish proposed driver aids that monitor many more parameters than present systems to
provide long-term actual driver coaching on how they can drive more economically.
Don't miss out on the 2011 programme. Sign up now for regular updates.
