Sri Lanka makes fully electric car showcasing local engineering skills
An enthusiastic expert team of young Sri Lankan electrical, electronic and mechanical engineers is working on an ambitious fully electric super car project aimed at turning new leaf in the automobile manufacturing industry.
A Sri Lankan owned company Code Gen International headed by its CEO Harsha Subasinghe is to introduce Sri Lanka’s first locally made fully electric super car, ‘Vega’ with the aim of showcasing talents of young Sri Lankan engineers with local and foreign experience.
Code Gen, a leading software provider for prominent airlines such as Emirates and Virgin Airlines, has stepped into automobile designing and manufacturing field involving a team of 25 experts in various fields including engineering consultants and software developers, an official of the company said.
The production of the super electric car is being carried out by this team of 25 experts with the manpower assistance from the Sri Lanka army. The Urban Development Authority has provided the work site facilities.
The company has initiated this project in April this year with an investment of Rs. 30 million allocating for research and development.
Programme Manager, Dr. Beshan Kulapala who has a PhD in electrical engineering from Arizona University, told the Business Times that the chassis, the body, electronics, control system and all other components of the electric super car are being made in Sri Lanka.
He noted that their aim is to make a complex world class product for the local and export market. “On the other hand we want to motivate our young experts to engage in innovative ventures without seeking greener pastures,” he said.
Sri Lanka’s first fully electric super car will have an acceleration of 0-100 kmph in less than four seconds, he said, adding that lot of aerodynamics were used to develop the engine system for this purpose.
Vega could gain a top speed of 220 kmph and it can travel 240 miles with one charge.
Except for the two motors and the battery cell, which have been brought down from the US, every part of the car, from the chassis and body design to the cooling system, will be made in Sri Lanka, he disclosed.
The twin engine capacity will be 900 HP and the car would be fully controlled by software. The battery cell is a LiFePO4 (Lithium) battery pack.
This fully electric car is free from carbon emissions and no noise pollution as the sound emission from the electric motor is minimal. The company is also planning to produce electric cars and three wheelers in the near future.