With skyrocketing gas price, global warming, pollution; solar is the best alternative to fuel the future vehicles.

A 16-year-old, 10 grader, with no formal trainings, surprised everybody in Baglung, Western Nepal, with the successful trial run of a self-made solar vehicle, “Kushal Solar Car”.

Kushal KC of Amrit Adarsha Higher Secondary School built a 3 seat solar car in 42 days. The car has six 20-watt panels in the front, rear and roof of the vehicle to power it while driving. In the absence of sunlight, 20 batteries (18 Amp) power the vehicle. The vehicle can run at a maximum speed of up to 60kmph.

Out of the total cost of Rs. 600,000.00, his school helped him collect Rs. 200,000 and the government body, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), contributed a mere Rs. 10,000.

Kushal had previously made a helicopter named ‘Speedy Eagle’ and displayed it in Pokhara and Kathmandu. The helicopter had won first prize in a Science Exhibition held at Kathmandu Universal College, Kathmandu. Apart from car and helicopter he had also made telescope, dynamo, photo projectors with his limited resources.

Kushal was felicitated by his school and different organizations for his achievement on October 27, 2009 at Baglung. The car might not be a totally new invention but the quest of the kid to explore the new avenues in science is really encouraging.

Photo credits – Republica and Nayapatrika