Feature: Gaza colleague students make first solar car

Two Palestinian mechanical engineering students from Gaza have shown their passion for green energy through manufacturing the first prototype solar car.

Kept in an empty room at the ground floor of one of the students' home in Gaza city, the two-door vehicle is covered by solar panels that can convert sunrays into energy to an electric motor which pushes the vehicle to move.

The students said it took them one year to design the three-wheel vehicle, adding the costs were roughly 1,500 U.S. dollars which they paid from their own pockets.

Jamal Mikaty, one of students, said they wanted to achieve two goals through this project.

"The first is to make a scientific leap to prove that we can achieve just like the other countries," he said, adding that the second is to bring the knowledge they gained into reality and serve the community.

The young man said they are very pleased that they have managed to realize their dreams through this model.

Although the solar car can only reach the speed of 30 kilometers per hour, the two students said this is the first step toward a real high tech solar car that will be manufactured soon.

"I believe that their project will be very successful in Gaza if we find a sponsor because this will help Gaza residents escape the skyrocketing prices of fuel that is imported from Israel," said Mikaty.

Gaza is rich for solar energy and it is almost the only natural source available in the region with more than 300 sunny days in the year, yet 1.9 million Gaza people have no choice but to rely on expensive Israeli-imported fuel to run their vehicles and factories.

According to the Oslo Peace Accords between Israel and the Palestinians, Israel has control over the fuel supply to the Palestinians, while the Palestinian government must not sell its fuel for less than 15 percent of Israel's market price.

"If this project is implemented; we will reduce our dependency on Israeli energy," Miktay added as he prepared the vehicle for a short ride in his upscale neighborhood.

As the car moved slowly, Mikaty waved to his neighbors who lined to watch his small metal car.

The students were encouraged by al-Azhar University of Gaza which is considered a main supporter of innovation in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

Mazen Abu Amer, professor at al-Azhar University's engineering faculty, told Xinhua that the idea to create a solar car is brand new in Gaza, adding that the university will support the project to the end.

"We hope that this project will be commercialized and can benefit the Gaza Strip in the near future," he said. Endit