Solar Vehicle Built by KFUPM EE Students | Three sudents from the Electrical Engineering Department have participated in the making of the first solar vehicle to be built in King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), and in Saudi Arabia. Ahmed Al-Hamrani, Ali Fahad Al-Shagag and Ismail Al-Rawi of the EE department were part of the team that developed the vehicle called Wahj, a name inspired from the Arabic word "وهج" which means "Glow". It is strongly believed that this sproject indicates the beginning of a new era of student projects in the area of renewable energy.
The Wahj vehicle project is the biggest student project undertaken so far at KFUPM, both in terms of the amount of work put into the project and the practical impact this work can have on the society at large. The students had to overcome a lot of difficulties like envisioning, designing, and manufacturing a solar race car in less than a year. This is an enormous achievment, keeping in mind the fact that the students had little background and experience in the subject. The students believe that in order to produce the best solar race car possible, they must explore the perfect balance between superior aerodynamics, high efficiency, light weight, safety, and reliability. The KFUPM EE team intends to participate in competitive events with other teams from around the world having years of experience in solar race cars. They believe that by team work, it is possible to overcome difficulties and build a way to success. |
Wahj has the following specifications:
Cells: 6m2, 22.6% efficiency, non-Crystalline Silicon solution Battery: 40 Kg Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Motor: In wheel 7.5 KW 20 Kg Brush-less DC Electric Motor |
 
KFUPM team that developed the Wahj solar vehicle |
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