DLSU-ECT unveils new Eco Cars

The De La Salle University – Eco Car Team (DLSU-ECT) unveiled their two eco cars, Archer and Delta, last February 4 at the Corazon Aquino Democratic Grounds. The twin eco cars will be competing in the Shell Eco-Marathon Asia 2016 to be hosted in the country.

Now on their sixth year with over 30 members, the DLSU-ECT was born with the creation of the DLSU100 eco car celebrating DLSU’s 100th year. The DLSU100 won fifth place in the prototype category of the Shell Eco Marathon Debut Asia 2010, with Jeffrey Yu, an engineering student, representing DLSU in the competition. The first eco car was then followed by the DLSU101 and DLSU100 Mark II.

U-Launch 

Gokongwei College of Engineering Dean Dr. Jonathan R. Dungca and Shell Eco-Marathon Asia General Manager Lyndon Lumain commenced the launching after delivering their separate opening remarks. Lumain mentioned that this year’s Shell Eco-Marathon will be the last one to be hosted in the country.

Representatives from the Red Cross of the Philippines were also present and gave reminders regarding safety protocols that were to be practiced during the launching, as well road safety commitments.

Afterwards, the two cars were test driven by members of the team itself, which allowed the University to finally witness the success of the output of the team.

Shell Eco-Marathon

“The event started with 80 entries from Asia and now the cap is 125,” Lumain included in his speech. When the Philippines started participating in the said event last 2010, there were only 10 entries from different institutions around the country. This year, there are 23 institutions participating, De La Salle University included.

The University’s entry debuted in 2010. Since then, several models have been modified and improved for competing in the marathon.

The Shell Eco-Marathon challenges teams to develop and come up with innovative ideas to promote energy efficiency and help in saving the environment.

This year’s Eco-Marathon Asia will be held on March 3-6 at the Rizal Park in Manila.

Team behind the success

There are separate teams in charge of Archer and Delta, and these were further divided into the core and auxiliary teams. Florence Culaba, a psychology student, heads the management team and serves as overseer of the whole team.

The team is composed mainly of engineering students, some coming from Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE), Computer Engineering (CpE) and Mechanical Engineering (ME).

In an interview with The LaSallian, Eunice Cua, member of the core committee for Delta, explains the process of selecting the members of the team. “There are specialized exams depending on your course, like ‘yung ECE circuits ‘yung test, mech naman have to do autocad. It really depends on your discipline. Then there are intensive interviews. The panel for the interview will compose of senior members of the team,” she said.

When asked about how they would be assigned to their tasks, she added, “You will be the one to apply for your desired position in the team.”

The team believes that the youth are never too young to innovate and contribute a solution to help rehabilitating the environment, and so believes that because of this, DLSU-ECT is founded on commitment, passion and hardwork.