Alternative Energy Vehicles Go Racing
The Alternative Energy Vehicle Races, organised by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) at Körfez Circuit, came to an end with races in the "Hydromobile" and "Electromobile" categories.
On the second day of racing, in the "Electromobile" category, Istanbul University took first place with its car Socrat, second with its car Milat, and Yıldız Technical University finished third with its car Electra.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Işık said alternative energy would be among the issues at the top of Türkiye's agenda in the coming period, adding that Türkiye's energy needs are great but its resources are scarce.
Minister Işık therefore stressed the importance of alternative energy fields and energy efficiency, saying: "In recent years there has been intensive work worldwide on alternative energy vehicles in the automotive industry, and it is moving fast. This is an entirely new field, but it is where the technology of the future lies. In terms of preparing for the technologies of the future, we are pleased to see growing interest from young people in this competition organised by TÜBİTAK. I congratulate TÜBİTAK and TOSFED on this successful organisation."
Işık said the automotive sector would focus most heavily on R&D in the coming period, and that through today's competitions young people were working in the fields of the future. Işık added that the young people competing here would play an important role in car production, saying: "Worldwide, work is moving quickly towards the commercialisation of electric vehicles. This time, as Türkiye, we are not missing the train. Türkiye will start this race strongly and right on time, but the most important element in the race is qualified people. Without qualified people, it doesn't matter what resources you have."
Following the speeches, Minister Işık, Kocaeli Governor Hasan Basri Güzeloğlu, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Arif Ergin, TOSFED President Metin Çeker and the accompanying officials presented awards to the top finishers in each category.
Işık then inspected the vehicles that had competed in the races, getting in and receiving information on Istanbul University's car Socrat and Trakya University's car Pehlivan. Minister Işık drove Socrat for a lap of the circuit.
