MANSEHRA, June 19: Six students of Hazara University have made the first-ever hybrid vehicle, which runs both on petrol and solar energy.

“Solar hybrid vehicle is the outcome of successive experiments by students of our physics department. We want to introduce this pollution-free vehicle at commercial level,” Hazara University vice chancellor Dr Sakhawat Shah told reporters on Tuesday.

According to him, Raja Imran, Sabeen Dilawar, Adnan Sultan, Sundus Nawaz, Wajahat Ali, Zainub Liaquat and Mohammad Tahir designed and manufactured solar hybrid vehicle under the supervision of Professor Mohammad Sadiq.

The vehicle was displayed at the university’s campus during a recent visit of Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Masood Kausar, who not only appreciated the great achievement but also gave Rs50,000 reward for its designer and manufacturers.

“The velocity of this vehicle is around 45km per hour under direct light of sun and we are working to enhance it to around 80km per hour,” said Professor Sadiq.

He said the vehicle, which consumed solar energy as fuel, was connected through three solar panels, which produced 190 watts and converted it to 12 volts. He said the vehicle cost Rs250,000 and if developed on commercial scale, its cost could be reduced considerably.

The professor said the vehicle was highly environmentally friendly.

He said human ear could stand sound of 90 decibels but a rickshaw produced sound of 150 decibels causing noise pollution.

“We are also working to introduce an environmentally friendly and economical rickshaw,” he said.

The vice chancellor later told reporters that though his university faced financial constraints, he made available money for the project in light of the department’s previous achievements.

He said the country faced serious energy crisis and advent of the hybrid vehicle was a milestone in the right direction and the time was not far away when such inventions would pave the way for great achievements in overcoming energy crisis.

Mr Shah said Hazara University was playing an important role in higher education and spending huge chunk of its resources on PhDs aboard.

“An expenditure of Rs20 million incurs over education of a PhD. Eight PhDs returned home recently after completion of studies, while eight are still abroad. That’s a great achievement,” he said.

He said currently, 9,500 male and female students were getting education at Hazara University in 32 different departments.