These Vellore students designed an 'eco-friendly bike' that operates with gas fuel generated from saltwater

After a trial-and-error period of almost two years, the two young innovators came up with a revolutionary but cost-effective mechanism to power our future rides
Representational Image
Representational Image

For over a hundred years, fossil fuel and internal combustion engines catered to a plethora of human needs and laid the foundation for modern civilisation. However, even when oil production was at its peak in the latter half of the 20th century, the question lingered — how long should mankind depend on it?

For two Class X students studying in a government school from Vellore district, the question was as much theirs to answer as it was to the engineers of tech giants and they did find an answer. The students, D Devandhiran and K Somasundharam have designed an innovative project of 'Eco-friendly Bike' where a two-wheeler operates from the gas fuel generated from saltwater. The 46 state-level Jawaharlal Nehru Science and Mathematics Exhibition which is organised at OCPM Girls Higher Secondary School in Madurai for three days from November 22 to November 24.

While students from several districts have exhibited their innovative projects during the exhibition, the project which was designed by D Devandhiran and K Somasundharam studying Class X at the government higher secondary school at Pennathur in Vellore district stood out as many students who came to the exhibition witnessed this project with surprise as a two-wheeler was operated using the gas fuel which was generated from saltwater.

Speaking to the Express, Devandhiran and Somasundharam mentioned that they came up with this project of operating a two-wheeler with the gas fuel generated from salt water in order to come out with an alternative solution to the increasing fuel price and to prevent the pollution caused by the vehicles. Explaining about the project, Devandhiran said, "This project requires a closed plastic container to store water which is mixed with salt, a carburetor that operates with gas and a battery. It also requires an inlet tube which is connected from the water container to a zinc plate fixed above the carburetor and an outlet tube which is connected from the carburetor to the container. When the carburetor is powered using the battery, sodium chloride (NaCl) in the saltwater container turns in to oxyhydrogen (HHO) gas which is used to operate the vehicle."

Somasundharam said that this is a very simple mechanism and a cost-effective alternative fuel to operate vehicles. He said that when the vehicle is operated using this method it gives a mileage of 48km per litre of salt water. He mentioned that they have worked for nearly two years on this project and it turned out to be a success. We have also applied for a patent for this project through the Vellore District Collector, he added.

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