Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Racing says it has reached a key milestone in its "Green Technology" project.
NMMU Racing has secured entry into the prestigious 2013 "Formula Student Electric" competition, which is held annually in the first week of August at the famous Hockenheim Formula One Circuit in German.
"The German Formula Student competition caters for both combustion and electric racing cars," said NMMU Racing head of business, Kweku Quansah.
He said after the phenomenal success of their first combustion car "DibaOne" in 2011, they've now returned with an all-new Green Technology electric racing car, dubbed "DibaTwo GT".
"NMMU Racing made history once again, by being to first South African team to gain entry into this alternative-energy racing formula," he said.
Quansah says "DibaTwo GT" is a giant leap forward from DibaOne, and includes brand new technologies such as 100KW, 450Nm Brushless-DC electric motor powered by Lithium Polymer batteries, targeting a 0-100Km/h acceleration of under 4.7seconds."
"Another new development is a unique aerodynamic package incorporating front and rear wings, and a Formula One style under-body diffuser to increase cornering down-force," he said.
He says "the highly-motivated NMMU Racing team, consisting of mechanical and electrical engineering students, along with business and marketing students, plans to begin testing of DibaTwo GT within the next two months.
Quansah said the "DibaTwo GT" was built at a cost of around R1.5m which was funded by sponsorship from the private sector.
