A made-in-Singapore car is pretty much unheard of. However, a group of engineering students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore has not only achieved the feat of building a car, the car they built is a 3D-printed solar car.
Named NTU Venture (NV) 8, the concept car is Singapore’s first urban solar electric car. Its body shell is printed using a 3D printer and has 150 parts. The 123-kg car took a total of four months to be made, and was built from scratch.
Image via video screenshot.
“We are extremely proud to have designed and assembled a 3D printed body shell for the electric car, which is Singapore’s first and probably Asia’s first 3D-printed concept car,” said Associate Professor Ng Heong Wah, who mentored the team of students that made the car. “The 3D printed car body was pushing existing technology to the limits and we are so pleased that it has paid off.”
“We decided to go with a 3D-printed cabin made from lightweight plastic, as we wanted to maximise the internal space and driver’s comfort while still being able to keeping the weight to a minimum,” remarked Ilmi Bin Abdul Wahab, a year 4 computer engineering student who led the development of the NV8.
He added, “Despite being an Urban Concept car, it is no slouch and can reach a top speed of 60 kilometres per hour, while maintaining low energy consumption.”
Watch this video of IImi and his team mate, Ng Kok Choong, relate their experience of making the NV8:
Follow NTU’s Instagram @NTU_sg for more inspiring stories of their students.
Editor’s note: This post has been presented by NTU, but all thoughts and opinions are the writer’s own.
