Student develops three-fuel electric vehicle

A mechanical engineering student in India has developed an electric vehicle that uses solar energy, fuel cells and battery-cell electricity.

The vehicle consists of a 12V solar panel, two fuel cells and a plug pin for power. The vehicle relies on the solar panel for its primary source of power and, if there is insufficient light, resorts to its fuel cells. Should there be a lack of hydrogen, necessary for a hydrogen and oxygen reaction to create electricity, then the vehicle uses its conventional battery.
The designer, N Senthil Kannan of Oxford Engineering College, says the vehicle should prove popular because the omission of an internal combustion engine will make it a cost-effective alternative to other vehicles, with costs decreasing further during mass production.