Da-Yeh University Wins Four Crowns at the Eco-Energy Vehicle Competition

The 23rd National Intercollegiate Eco-Energy Vehicle Competition was recently held at the Lukang Vehicle Research and Testing Center. The Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering and the Department of Industrial Design at Da-Yeh University collaborated across departments and swept up four championship titles: first place in the Electric Vehicle Group dynamic competition, first place in the Fuel-Saving Vehicle Group dynamic competition, first place in vehicle fabrication, and the overall spirit trophy.

Chen Wen-chien, Vice Dean of the College of Engineering, said that the Eco-Energy Vehicle Competition is an annual highlight for mechanical engineering students, because this event gives students the ability to build a one-to-one-scale, drivable, moving car during their studies, accumulating technical skills and practical experience. This year's competition members were not only mechanical engineering students and industrial design students working together, but also included exchange students from Longyan University and Sanming University in mainland China forming teams together.

Team ZERO won the Electric Vehicle Group dynamic competition championship, an honorable mention in vehicle design, and the overall spirit trophy. Team Surblazers won the Fuel-Saving Vehicle Group dynamic competition championship and an honorable mention in vehicle design. Team Transition took the vehicle design championship, and Team Initial Spirit won runner-up in vehicle design. The four teams brought home a total of seven trophies.

Lai Yung-lun, captain of Team Surblazers and a senior in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, pointed out that when they participated in the eco-car competition last year, everyone poured a whole year of effort into it, but because the engine had problems on the day of the competition, they were unable to finish the race, and everyone pushed the car back while crying. Although they lost the competition at that time, they won the applause of the entire audience, which made them even more determined with the ambition to challenge again and win this year. During the preparation process, Chou Heng-chun, who was responsible for the vehicle's exterior design, was in a car accident that caused a fracture of her femur. Despite her limited mobility, she still relied on her passion and completed the work while leaning on crutches. On the day of the competition, when the judges announced that the first place in the Fuel-Saving Vehicle Group dynamic competition was Team Surblazers, everyone was both surprised and delighted, feeling that all the hard work had been worth it.

Wang Ssu-chu, one of the few female students on the team and a sophomore in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, believes that who says girls do not understand mechanics; girls can build cars just the same. She joined the eco-energy vehicle team starting in her freshman year. The Eco-Energy Vehicle Competition requires technical ability and also a spirit of teamwork, like a miniature society where everyone performs their own duties and works together to achieve the goal. Participating in the competition helped her develop many abilities needed for future employment, and she wants to keep participating until she graduates.

Chen Wen-wen, a mainland Chinese student who came from Sanming University in Fujian Province to Da-Yeh University's "Mechanical Training Program" for a one-year advanced study, said that before going to Taiwan for advanced study, she had heard that Da-Yeh University was very strong in eco-energy vehicle research and development. After actually participating, she not only learned hands-on experience, but the insights and creativity of her teammates also brought her tremendous inspiration. For her, making this group of like-minded friends and exchanging ideas and learning together was more important than winning an award.

Yang Kai-an, captain of Team ZERO and a sophomore in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, emphasized that the organizer provided motors of the same specifications for everyone to design cars and compete, and the key to victory or defeat lay in the driver. Through the design of the control system, they enabled the motor to deliver its highest efficiency. In terms of the car body, industrial design team members used carbon fiber to reduce weight, cut power consumption, and paired it with a bullet-shaped design to lower wind resistance and increase speed. Through teamwork, they achieved the championship result as they had wished, which was truly the best memory of college life.