28/04/2026
SELANGOR, 25 April 2026 - Eight Chemical Engineering students from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), competing as Team Forza Ferrari and Team Bimetallic Engines, represented the university in the 17th Malaysia Chem-E-Car Competition organized by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia and hosted by Xiamen University Malaysia. The competition integrates key areas of chemical engineering, including reaction engineering, fluid mechanics, process control, and safety, while showcasing students’ innovation in solving real-world engineering challenges, making it a highly relevant and hands-on learning experience.
The Malaysia Chem-E-Car Competition challenges students to design and construct an A4-sized car powered and stopped entirely by chemical reactions without conventional batteries or fuel. The competition consists of two categories: Poster Competition and Car Performance Competition. Following a test run on 25 April that allowed participants to calibrate and fine-tune their cars, teams competed on 26 April across two tracks. Track 1 required cars to carry water over 2–5 metres, hit a golf ball into a goal, and stop autonomously, while Track 2 involved transporting water over approximately 15 metres before stopping autonomously.
Performance was evaluated based on task completion, creativity, and adherence to safety, environment and health considerations.
Both UMPSA teams showcased an innovative car powered by galvanic cell stacks consisting of Zn/Al plates and copper(II) sulfate electrolyte connected in series. The vehicles were engineered by modifying toy car structures and integrating gears, motors, galvanic cell compartments, load container, and other unique features. Developed through extensive research, testing, and refinement, the designs also emphasized sustainability through the use of recycled materials.
Team Forza Ferrari consists of Kiang Hao Yi, Myra Anne Miranda, Thibanu a/p Chandran, and Premita a/p Subbaramaniam, while Team Bimetallic Engine consists of Chew Jian Han, Teh Haween, Shirley Yeoh Shi Yi, and Lim Xin Le. All eight students are under the Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology (FTKKP). Both teams were supervised by Prof. Ts. Dr. Jolius bin Gimbun, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Syed Mohd Saufi Tuan Chik, and Ts. Dr. Zulkifly bin Jemaat, assisted by the FTKKP technical staff team.
The 17th Malaysia Chem-E-Car competition brought together 41 teams from Malaysia, Indonesia, and India. The competing universities were Brawijaya University, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Xiamen University Malaysia, UMPSA, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), UniKL MICET, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Diponegoro University, Syiah Kuala University, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Monash University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaya (UM), Universitas Sebelas Maret, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Taylors University, Kolej Mara Seremban, Politeknik Tun Syed Nasir Syed Ismail, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. In the poster competition, UPM secured first place, followed by UM and Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology. For the car performance category, UM emerged as champion, followed by Diponegoro University and UniMAP.
