The Hindu : National : Now, a car from school student for Rs. 25,000

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Now, a car from school student for Rs. 25,000

‘Fame’ is small, reliable and price advantageous

Car for narrow alleys of Varanasi

Varanasi: Move over Nano. Here comes “Fame” for just Rs. 25,000 assembled together by a 16-year-old.

The car, equipped with a 150 cc four-stroke scooter engine and weighing around 160 kg, was among several products on display on Saturday at the ’Young Innovators’ exhibition of Banaras Hindu University. Its inventor Standard XII student Chandan Kumar drove all the way here from Azamgarh, about 150 km, in the green coloured open air, two-seater mini car.

He calls it “Fame” and claims “it is small, reliable and the biggest advantage is its price – Rs. 25,000.”

Mr. Chandan said the car had four gears and claims it gave an average of 45-50 km a litre and top speed of 80 km an hour.

“My father is a mechanic and I was always interested in cars, so decided to make one. The car is especially for the narrow alleys of Varanasi. I have not kept track of how much it really cost me as I used old spare parts,” he said.

The boy, who has no formal training in the field, said he did not get any outside funding for making the vehicle but is hoping that the Banaras Hindu University finances a project to upgrade the model.

When his invention was compared to the Rs. 1 lakh car unveiled by Tata Motors, he said, “I actually finished my car two years ago but took time to improve the body and comfort levels. I wish to make it even better than the Nano.” —PTI

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