Envisioning electric dreams on four wheels
In the corridors of Pakistan Navy Engineering College at National University of Sciences and Technology (PNEC-NUST), a spark of innovation ignited in 2009. A group of passionate students, fueled by the thrill of competition and the desire to make a difference, came together with a shared vision - to create something that would change the game. As Sadus Rizwan, a founding member of Team Envision, recounts, "We were driven by the opportunity to participate in the Shell Eco-Marathon for the very first time." The idea was simple yet ambitious, "to design and build an energy-efficient vehicle that could compete on an international stage."
In a small lab within the university, the team's journey began, marked by countless hours of brainstorming, designing, and building. Their initial goal was to create a vehicle that would not only represent Pakistan globally but also showcase the country's potential for innovation. And so, Team Envision was born. Over the next 15 years, the team would go on to build 17 cars, each one a testament to their growing expertise and innovative spirit.
Through their journey, Team Envision consistently represented Pakistan in global competitions, earning multiple awards for their innovative designs. But as they explored the realm of fuel-efficient vehicles, they began to realize that their vision needed to expand. As Sadus Rizwan explains, "Having fully explored Shell's competition, we've now broadened our vision and agenda." The future of transportation was clear: electric vehicles (EVs) were the way forward.
And so, Team Envision set their sights on a new challenge - participating in Teknofest, a competition that focuses on training students to create cars with commercial viability in mind. The result is their latest creation, AZAAD-E, a four-wheel urban electric vehicle that marks a significant step towards bringing the concept of EVs to Pakistan. As Sadus Rizwan puts it, "With the future of transportation clearly leaning towards electric vehicles (EVs), we're introducing our latest creation... as a step towards bringing the concept of EVs to Pakistan."
Overcoming obstacles
The journey of Team Envision was not without its challenges. As an undergraduate team, one of the most significant hurdles they faced was arranging funds for their vehicle production. Another team member Zainab Jibran explains, "The mission us students have decided to work on requires monetary and technical funds which goes until the end of the making. With most students not having a steady income, the team had to rely on sponsorships to turn their vision into reality. They approached various companies, offering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) services, brand boosting, and campaigns in return for financial support.” Fortunately, they found notable sponsors like Sindh Bank, Nixor College, Universal Cables, and others who believed in their dream.
However, the challenges didn't end there. Entering a new competition like Teknofest brought its own set of obstacles. “Navigating unfamiliar rules and specifications, which required us to work diligently to ensure compliance while still pushing the boundaries of innovation,” said Zainab. They went through numerous design iterations to create the best possible vehicle, but the dimension constraints outlined in the rulebook presented significant hurdles.
Furthermore, the team faced technical challenges like designing and fabricating the motor controller themselves, as they weren't allowed to use commercial products. “This task was compounded by issues we faced in the telemetry system, which needed to be perfectly tuned to ensure optimal performance. Additionally, the wheel assembly proved difficult, as the specified wheels were different from those typically used in standard vehicles, requiring us to adapt and overcome these unique constraints,” explains Zainab.
Despite these challenges, Team Envision persevered, relying on their collective skills, creativity, and determination to overcome each obstacle. They demonstrated that with hard work and dedication, even the most significant challenges could be overcome, paving the way for innovation and success.
The vehicle
Team Envision's four-wheel Urban Electric Vehicle is a masterpiece of innovation, designed specifically with Pakistan's urban environment in mind. "Our four-wheel Urban Electric Vehicle is designed with several unique features that make it particularly suitable for Pakistan's urban environment,” explains Sadus.
One of its standout features is the double wishbone suspension system, which ensures a smooth and stable ride even on uneven roads. "The car's power-to-weight ratio is optimized by pairing a relatively smaller motor with a lightweight design, making it incredibly efficient without sacrificing performance," adds Sadus.
The vehicle's handling and maneuverability are significantly enhanced by the independent suspension on each wheel, making it perfect for navigating through crowded urban streets. "Each wheel is equipped with independent suspension, which significantly enhances handling and maneuverability—essential for navigating through crowded urban streets," Sadus emphasizes.
Safety has also been a top priority, with roll bars mounted directly on the chassis to provide added protection in the event of a collision. "For safety, we’ve mounted roll bars directly on the chassis, providing added protection in the event of a collision. These roll bars were meticulously tested during the design phase to ensure they meet the highest safety standards," explains Sadus.
In addition to its impressive performance and safety features, the vehicle also boasts advanced electrical safety features. "Our vehicle includes advanced electrical safety features such as a low voltage fuse board, DC circuit breaker, 80-amp wire lugged fuse, insulation monitoring device, and a comprehensive battery management system. These components work together to ensure the safety and reliability of the vehicle," notes Sadus.
Aesthetically, the vehicle has a modern design that looks sleek and contemporary, distinguishing it from older models. "On the aesthetic front, our vehicle boasts a modern design that looks sleek and contemporary, distinguishing it from older models. This combination of efficiency, safety, and style makes our Urban Electric Vehicle an ideal choice for Pakistan's urban landscape," shares Sadus.
In terms of specifications, the vehicle is fully fabricated in Pakistan, showcasing local innovation and engineering talent. "Our vehicle is fully fabricated in Pakistan, showcasing local innovation and engineering talent," highlights Zainab. “The body is crafted from glass fiber reinforced plastic, which adds significant strength while maintaining an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. The chassis is made of lightweight aluminum, complemented by mild steel roll bars that enhance the overall safety of the structure.”
The vehicle is equipped with independent suspension and disc brakes on all four wheels, ensuring smooth handling and reliable stopping power. "For performance, we’ve equipped the vehicle with independent suspension and disc brakes on all four wheels, ensuring smooth handling and reliable stopping power," explains Zainab. “It's powered by a 6-kilowatt DC motor, which delivers the necessary torque and efficiency for urban driving. Additionally, the vehicle is powered by a custom-made 60V lithium-ion battery, built from recycled Sony Murata cells, with a capacity of 32Ah—balancing sustainability with performance.”
Public adoption
Team Envision's innovative electric vehicle has the potential to benefit the public in numerous ways. "Our vehicle promotes sustainability by reducing carbon emissions, which improves air quality and public health in underdeveloped areas. The vehicle's efficiency also lowers transportation costs, reducing reliance on costly fossil fuels. Electric vehicles (EVs) lower transportation costs due to their efficiency and reduce reliance on costly fossil fuels,” explains Zainab.
Moreover, the introduction of EVs can stimulate local economies by creating job opportunities in manufacturing and infrastructure. Team Envision's roadshows and competitions educate the public about EV technology and sustainability, while their commercialization efforts aim to make these vehicles more accessible and affordable. "Our roadshows and competitions educate the public about EV technology and sustainability, while commercialization efforts aim to make these vehicles more accessible and affordable, boosting mobility and supporting economic development," notes Zainab.
To make the vehicle accessible to the public, Team Envision is actively contacting various companies to explore opportunities for commercialization. "Our team is working tirelessly to make the vehicle accessible to the public. We are actively contacting various companies to explore opportunities for commercialization and aim to launch it as a Pakistani product in the near future," says Zainab.
While exact timelines are still being finalized, the team's goal is to bring this innovative vehicle to market as soon as possible. "Our goal is to bring this innovative vehicle to market as soon as possible, making it available to the public and showcasing our country's advancements in sustainable transportation," she emphasizes.
The team's urban vehicle is a proof to their dedication to sustainable transportation and their desire to make a positive impact on the environment. "We specifically designed the urban vehicle after fabricating 16 prototype vehicles which were not suitable for families and general public. However, commercializing the concept is a significant challenge. We can't commercialize our concept all by ourselves - we don’t have the platform to sell it, to advertise it in the market like any automotive sector, and as students we can't start the business without any support from higher parties," emphasizes Zainab.
Future plans
As Team Envision looks to the future, their immediate goal is to compete in Teknofest, where they aim to have their car rigorously scrutinized by the judges. "As we look to the future, our immediate goal is to compete in Teknofest, where we aim to have our car rigorously scrutinized by the judges. This feedback will be invaluable as we work to identify and rectify any flaws, striving to make our vehicle as flawless as possible," says Sadus.
Beyond Teknofest, the team plans to enhance the car's efficiency by designing their own motor in the near future. "We also plan to enhance the car's efficiency by designing our own motor in the near future, a step we're eager to take once the necessary facilities become available in Pakistan," adds Sadus.
They're also committed to competing in more national and international competitions to raise awareness about sustainability and fuel efficiency. "Beyond this, we're committed to competing in more national and international competitions to raise awareness about sustainability and fuel efficiency," she emphasizes.
Securing sponsors for the commercialization of their car is another key goal. "Another key goal is to secure sponsors for the commercialization of our car. By doing so, we hope to make it more accessible to the general public, bringing the benefits of our work to a broader audience and contributing to the advancement of electric vehicles in Pakistan," explains Sadus.
To participate in international events and competitions, the team is currently in the testing phase of their car, rigorously testing to identify and address any potential issues. "We are currently in the testing phase of our car as we prepare for next year's competition. This involves rigorous testing to identify and address any potential issues, ensuring that the car performs flawlessly when it's time to compete," notes Sadus.
Alongside testing, the team is continuously making improvements and optimizing the car to enhance its performance and efficiency. "Alongside testing, we are continuously making improvements and optimizing the car to enhance its performance and efficiency," she adds.
To create awareness and build support, Team Envision is organizing roadshows at various public places, showcasing their vehicle and highlighting the importance of sustainability. "To create awareness and build support, we're organizing roadshows at various public places, showcasing our vehicle and highlighting the importance of sustainability," says Sadus.
They're also actively seeking shipment sponsors, as well as monetary and service sponsors, to help cover the costs associated with participating in international events and competitions. "Additionally, we are actively seeking shipment sponsors, as well as monetary and service sponsors, to help cover the costs associated with participating in international events and competitions. These steps are crucial to ensuring our success on the global stage," emphasizes Sadus.
A bright future ahead
Team Envision's journey has been marked by numerous achievements, including participating in international events and competitions. "We have participated in the Shell Eco-Marathon for the past 15 years and have won multiple awards," says Sadus. “These experiences have been invaluable, teaching the team how to work effectively, tackle challenges, and drive innovation. We've learned a great deal from interacting with teams from more developed countries, gaining insights into advanced technologies and innovative practices.”
Looking ahead, Team Envision plans to participate in several upcoming events, including the Shell Eco-Marathon, Teknofest Efficiency Challenge, and Shell's Autonomous Challenge. "These upcoming events will continue to provide opportunities for learning and growth, helping us refine our skills and enhance our vehicle's performance," notes Sadus Rizwan.
As Team Envision looks to the future, they invite the public and potential stakeholders to support their mission. "We invite the public and potential stakeholders to support Team Envision as we continue to push the boundaries of innovation in automotive engineering," says Zainab. “Our team is seeking monetary sponsors to help fund our efforts and encourage everyone to follow us on social media to stay updated on our progress. Support can make a significant difference in our journey," adds Zainab.
The message Team Envision wants to convey is clear: they need support to turn their concept into a reality. "The message we'd like to send to the public and stakeholders is to help us put this concept into action because the support can let us achieve so much. Not only will Pakistan benefit, but also the inflation problem would be reduced significantly," urge both members. With the right support, Team Envision can make a significant difference in the future of sustainable transportation.