By Zuko Komisa
Students from the John Orr Engineering School of Specialization in Johannesburg and the Soshanguve Automotive School of Specialization in Gauteng have developed solar-powered trains and cars, respectively,
The project was inspired by the harsh realities of many South Africans who continue to live in the shadow due to load-shedding and high food cost due to fuel price spikes.
The students considered the country’s current situation and developed creative solar-powered alternatives.
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The university students’ inventive projects were among many on display Thursday at the Sasol Innovation Expo, which took place at Carnival City in Brakpan, on the East Rand.
As a result, the schools were the only ones to take part in the expo.
Soshanguve Automotive School of Specialisation students invented a solar train called #TrainMojaji named after the #rainqueen in #LimpopoProvince. The Train has 4 solarpanels/Inverters/ motor/46vbattery/train runs 60km/h and its railway line at school’s premises. pic.twitter.com/0phqEFrfW8
— Toko Masemola (@TokoMasemola) September 9, 2022
Soshanguve Automotive School of Specialisation & John Orr Engineering School of Specialisation are representing the @EducationGP1 amongst the creations of students from universities at the @SasolSA Innovation Expo at @CarnivalCitySA today on Thursday, 8 September 2022. @Lesufi pic.twitter.com/8Y3LlzRuWF
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) September 8, 2022
Acting school principal Tladi Mashiane mentioned to the Sowetan that the learner’s project had taken two years to complete because of a lack of funding.
“ Automotive items are very expensive so we had to compromise and go for a cheap motor in order to complete the programme in time,”
“The train is amazing, not to mention how it looks from the outside and inside“It’s really excellent, a job well done to the team. The train is top class and cannot be found anywhere else in the world.” said Mashiane
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