From classroom theories to circuit-breaking creations, India’s next-gen engineers pitch EV dreams with volts of passion.
Patiala: If you thought EV innovation was all serious circuits and solemn sustainability talk, think again. The third round of the BYD EV Innovate-a-thon, held at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET), was part tech showcase, part startup pitch-fest, and part electrifying science fair with a clear message: India’s students aren’t just building electric vehicles—they’re charging toward the future.
Hosted as a powerful collaboration between BYD India (yes, the EV giant) and the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), the event marked a crucial milestone—the physical prototype round. The ten best teams (out of 3,200+ brave competitors from across India) finally got their moment to shine, solder, and sell their big ideas—literally.
Armed with functional EV models, 3D-printed dreams, and presentations sharper than their aerodynamic designs, these teams pitched their heart and hardware to an elite jury panel. The panel included EV champions like Ms. Shivani Chaudhary (BYD India), Manas Naishadh Vora (Vroomble Services), Dr. Kamal Vora (NAMTECH), and Dr. Mohammad Rafiq (ARAI), all of whom were spotted nodding thoughtfully, occasionally scribbling intensely, and once or twice, looking genuinely impressed.
“They came, they built, they convinced,” says F.R. Singhvi, President of ASDC. “This round wasn’t just about showing that a motor runs—it was about showing the industry that our future workforce can run the show.”
Each team brought its A-game, showcasing innovations like modular EVs (because why shouldn’t your car work like LEGO?), smart energy management (because batteries deserve brainpower too), and user-centric mobility solutions that seemed plucked straight out of sci-fi… only now they’re on wheels.
But let’s not forget the journey. The Innovate-a-thon began in July 2024 with an EV-themed digital quiz—a knowledge spark plug, if you will—followed by a blueprint-based second round. The top 10 teams then went from pixels to prototypes, guided by mentors who turned late-night coffee-fueled Zoom calls into working EV models.
Rajeev Chauhan, VP at BYD India, shared the bigger picture:
“What we’re seeing is not just problem-solving. It’s future-building. These students aren’t waiting for the EV revolution. They’re wiring it up themselves—lithium-ion by lithium-ion.”
And let’s be honest: watching 20-year-olds pitch EV concepts with the confidence of seasoned CEOs while casually referencing regenerative braking systems, carbon footprints, and market scalability? That’s enough to give any auto exec a healthy existential jolt.
As the competition shifts gears into its final round, one thing is clear: India’s electric future isn’t just in good hands—it’s in genius ones.
