Hari Meyyappan from Loughborough University was last night awarded first prize in the Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award 2010 for his idea: the PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC TWO-WHEELER. The announcement was made at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ annual dinner in London.
Hari’s prize is the dream start to any automotive career: five months’ work experience with award partners Honda UK, the Marshall Motor Group, Peugeot, Mercedes-Benz Retail and Toyota GB, as well as a cash prize of £7500.
Presenting the award, Autocar editor-in-chief Steve Cropley said: “Hari is a worthy winner of the Next Generation Award this year. His idea to modify an already existing internal combustion engine-driven two-wheeler and to turn it into a plug-in hybrid was no less than brilliant. Additionally, Hari’s presentation was very competent and he dealt with the questioning by ‘The Dragons’ extremely well. The judges and I will be watching his career progress with interest.”
Hari after collecting his award, said: “I am overwhelmed at winning the Next Generation Award and really proud of my achievement. It has been my dream since childhood to work in the automotive industry and hopefully I am now one step closer.”
Martin Bohling from the Courland Automotive Practice said: “The standard of entries this year was very high and the two runners-up deserve a very special mention. They were William Brown from Coventry University, who proposed powering a car using ultra-capacitors, and Rishikirran Kunnuparambil Haridhas from Leeds University for his idea to harness engine noise to generate electricity.”
The unique programme, launched last year to high industry acclaim, is open to undergraduates from any British university and is run in conjunction with Courland Automotive Practice and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The aim of the award is to identify and inspire the automotive industry leaders of tomorrow and assist them with their careers.
Hari, the 2010 winner, had to provide a plausible 1000-word paper in response to the competition brief:
“As world demand for cars continues to climb steeply, the industry faces unprecedented challenges – from encroaching legislation, traffic congestion, declining oil reserves, indecision over which technological avenue to follow, economic uncertainty and rising public misunderstanding of its objectives.
“Write an article which (1) lays out and justifies your forecast of major car industry trends over the next 10 years, and (2) uses your specific study area to propose one or more original actions you believe would improve the situation.”
Six shortlisted entrants spent a day with senior management from the award partners at Autocar’s headquarters in London. They presented their ideas in a Dragons’ Den-style atmosphere, which was filmed.
Autocar and Courland look forward to a long, successful partnership running the Next Generation Award programme. Year three will be launched in January 2011, when the hunt starts again to find the next young big thinker.
Runners-Up 2010
| William Brown | Coventry University |
| Rishikirran Kunnuparambil Haridhas | Leeds University |
| Award Partners/ Judges |
Honda UK | Judge Martin Moll, Head of Marketing |
| Toyota GB | Judge Francesco Mereu, Director HR | |
| Peugeot | Judge Andrew Didlick, Director of Communications | |
| Mercedes-Benz Retail | Judge Rachael Edwards, Senior HR Business Ptr | |
| Marshall Motor Group | Judge Christopher Walkinshaw, Bus Dev Dir | |
| Courland Automotive Practice | Judge Martin Bohling, Global Managing Partner | |
| Autocar | Judge Steve Cropley. Editor in Chief | |
| Supported by | The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) | |
| Thanks to Assessment Day Team | |
| Stuart McCullough | Consultant |
| Jason Harris | Ferrari |
| Charles Davis | Consultant |
| Roger Ormisher | Nissan |
| Patrick Fuller | Haymarket |
| Chrissi Evans | Box Consulting |
| Neil Wade | Mubea |
| Nikki Rooke | SMMT |
| Previous Winners | ||
| 2009 | Mohsin Basharmal | Coventry University |
| 2010 | Hari Meyyappan | Loughborough University |
For further information please contact:-
Karen Parry Autocar PR 0208 267 5553 / 07903 955 696
karen.parry@haymarket.com
karen@prandmediaworks.com
Hari Meyyappan
PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC TWO-WHEELER
IDEA SUMMARY
In this project, an already existing IC engine-driven two-wheeler was modified into a plug-in hybrid electric two-wheeler, to minimise IC engine usage and thereby the pollution. The working model of the plug-In hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that has been developed is based on the KINETIC MARVEL, which is conventionally powered by a 98cc two-stroke petrol engine. The alternate drive is provided by a 48V, 800W brushless DC wheel hub motor. The motor is mounted in the front wheel of the vehicle. The PHEV’s motor draws power from a 48V, 20Ah battery pack which gets charged directly from a standard home outlet when the vehicle is not in use. Plug-In Hybrid.
