One on One with a Beautiful Lady Archer: Ms. Mary Agnes Tan Jaiphen of the DLSU Eco Car Team

Taking care of her baby. Agnes with the DLSU 101 Eco Car at the Shell Eco Marathon in Sepang, Malaysia

I planned in doing a women's month special article last March, but due to conflict of schedules I wasn't able to find time to do it. Fortunately, before the end of women's month, I met a fine young woman who is worthy of being the first car lady to be featured here at Pinoy Loves Wheels, she is Ms. Mary Agnes Lim Tan Jaiphen. I met her during the Automized Car Show of De La Salle University through a churchmate and Lasallian Kyle Mamawal. This is Pinoy Loves Wheels post women's month celebration. We are commemorating their contributions to the society especially in the motoring industry and how valuable they are to us men and children.    

Agnes or Agie (A.G.) to some of her friends is a 4th year BS Mechanical Engineering student from De La Salle University. It is rare (at least) for me to see someone who graduated High School from the Immaculate Conception Academy, an exclusive Chinese girls school in San Juan, to take a career path in a male dominated industry. Most ICAns I know took courses related in law, medicine and business. I recently found out through her Facebook that Agnes is also a candidate for laude. Whether she's gonna be magna cum laude, summa cum laude or cum laude, this Lady Archer is definitely admired not only by men, but also by women. 

Agnes shows her strength in leading a pack of men with a smile 

The thing that I admire most about Agnes is that she is the team manager of the De La Salle University Eco car team. In a male dominated world, Agnes has become one of the boys, she inspires the whole team with her leadership. Just like a mother, Agnes passionately takes care of the DLSU-ECT especially when it comes to external affairs. This lady archer also has a great vision for the future of the Filipino transportation industry. And with the help of her alma mater De La Salle University, she is getting there.

Agnes together with the DLSU-Eco car team are now promoting ways on how to save fuel and other valuable resources that empowers our transportation industry today. They are also continuously researching on how to further improve the DLSU Eco cars, how they will apply these technologies that they are developing for the future of our local transportation industry, and how these will affect our daily lives. The DLSU Eco Car Team could find the key for the sustainable development of our transportation industry. Here's a more in-depth look at Ms. Mary Agnes Tan Jaiphen and the DLSU Eco Car Team:  

 1. Give me a little backgrounder about yourself

- I am currently a 4th year student of BS Mechanical Engineering degree in DLSU and also one of
the 2 team managers of the DLSU Eco Car Team (DLSU ECT) 2013. I was also part of the DLSU
ECT 2012. As a manager, I handle the logistics, communications and oversee the external
relations of the project but I also do help out with the mechanical team’s work.

2. Tell me about the DLSU Eco Car Team

- The DLSU Eco Car Team (DLSU-ECT) is a group of engineering students who design and
fabricate fuel-efficient vehicles to participate in the annual Shell Eco Marathon (SEM)
Asia Competition. The aim of the competition is to achieve the highest mileage with
1liter of fuel equivalent. The project addresses the energy crisis in transportation by
promoting renewable energy through green technology.
- The project is note only limited to helping students develop research, analytical,
business and leadership skills. It also allows us to realize their social and environmental
responsibility and share this with others as well.

3. How many members does the DLSU Eco Car Team have?

- We have around 40 members in the team.

4. Team Members background

- The 40 members comprise of senior, junior and sophomore students from Mechanical
(MEE), Manufacturing & Management (MEM), Computer (CPE) and Electronics & Communications Engineering (ECE). We also currently have a Civil Engineering (CIV) student with us this year. The team
seeks members who are not only skilled but also show the interest and initiative to learn
and research about possible innovations in green technology.

5. When is the team founded?

- The team was founded in 2010 to prepare for the SEM 2011. The team was called the
DLSU Eco Marathon Team (DLSU EMT) until it was changed this year to its current name
since we were often mistook for a team that competes in running marathons. The first
team was formed by Jeffrey Yu, an MEE graduate of 2011, who was previously part of
the DLSU Solar Car Team.

The De La Salle University Eco Car Team at Sepang, Malaysia

6. What are the objectives of the DLSU-ECT?

- Mission: To raise public awareness in the looming energy crisis and encourage
innovation and the practical application of green technologies in the transportation
industry.
- Vision: To be a leader in technical innovation for green technology and fuel-efficiency in
the Shell Eco Marathon Asia Competition and be an ambassador for safety.
- The team not only aims to be a part of the competition but also seeks to empower the
youth to also take a stand on the environment with green technology. We hold seminars
as well as visit other schools to talk about our project and increase the awareness to the
global energy crisis.

7. What is the team's goal?

- To create eco-friendly vehicles that emit minimum to zero carbon emissions.
- To promote the great potential of electric vehicles in the future through technical
innovations.
- To allow students to research and develop energy-saving strategies for urban vehicle
applications.
- To train engineering students to integrate green technology and systems in their future
careers.
- To educate students and society about sustainable energy through seminars, videos
and other events.

8. How many eco cars did you build?

- Since SEM 2011, the team has created 3 vehicles and in currently working on its 4th for
SEM 2013.
- 2011: DLSU100
The DLSU100 was the team's first entry to SEM Asia. The vehicle was launched
on 2011 which marked De La Salle University's centennial year, hence; making it the
university's centennial car. With the commitment and utmost discipline from the
pioneering team headed by Jeffrey Yu, the team was able to construct and create
Philippine's first Battery-Electric Prototype vehicle that recorded 228 km/kWh (2017.3
km/L) and placed 5th in its category.
- 2012: DLSU101 & DLSU100mk2
The first year in the competition only made the team realize more the potential
that it could achieve. The 2012 team came into the project with experience and the
drive to win in the competition.
DLSU101 was DLSU's second Battery Electric vehicle and ranked 7th out of 21
teams in its category with its 270 km/kWh (2400.75 km/L) record. With our dedication
to technical innovation for green technology, the DLSU101 was able to nab the only
Technical Innovation Award given in the competition among the 117 competition teams
across Asia due to its smart cruise control function, battery management system and
"most advanced n SEM Asia" telemetry system.
DLSU100mk2 was the team's tribute to solving the energy crisis of today. This
eco car was the first Gasoline Prototype fabricated by the team as means to promote
fuel efficiency with energy-saving strategies. It ranked 8th out of 36 teams with its 255
km/L record and is the Philippines' most fuel-efficient Prototype vehicle.

9. Who are the main engineers of these cars? And Who are the drivers?

- The main engineers of the project are the engineering students that are part of the
team but we also have our faculty advisers who guide us and to whom we consult with.
The drivers of the vehicles are also team members. We try to get drivers who are
lightweight, fit in the vehicle as well as are able to keep composure even when under
pressure in the competition.

10. What are the technical specifications of these cars (engine specs, suspension specs, top
speed, body design, economy)?

- All vehicles are made out of carbon fiber and materials that have a high strength to
weight ratio and have an aerodynamic monocoque shell.
- Our 2012 cars have a speed of around 60 kph
- DLSU100 with on a 42V lithium polymer battery pack & DLSU101 on a 60V lithium-ion
battery pack as well as highly efficient motors. DLSU100mkII runs on a 35cc engine and
it uses unleaded gasoline.
- all have battery management systems, telemetry systems, sensors (current,
temperature & speed) as wells as equip with safety features such as a 5-point seatbelt
and a fire extinguisher.
- DLSU101 is 2.8 x .74 x. 7m and both DLSU100 and DLSU100mkII are 3x .94 x .73m
(approximately)

Agnes (Middle) and the DLSU Eco Car team with Car Customizer and Drifter, Atoy Llave during the drift exhibition at Automized III Burnout Car Show

11. How do you see Filipino transportation in the future?

- The transportation industry today is getting more conscious about their fuel

consumption. We see a few of hybrids coming around and e-vehicles like e-trikes and ejeepneys.

Right now, there is still much to do with the battery technology such as

finding ways to extend the electric range with limiting battery charging time. But in the

future when these technologies are more developed to economical and practical means,

there is a chance that the Philippine roads will be cleaner with less carbon emissions and

the means of transportation will run on sustainable energy.

12. What is your dream for the Filipino transportation industry?

- I do hope that the Filipino transportation industry will become cleaner in a sense that it

will use sustainable energy and green technology. But aside from having these

technologies, the transportation industry will not prosper if the driving behavior in our

roads won’t change. In our facebook page (www.fb.com/dlsu.sem), we release fuel

saving tips that advice drivers how to drive wisely because the team believes that

changing driving habits is also a key ingredient to making a green future for the

transportation industry. We also hope that there will be more means of public

transportation available to all.

13. Tell me about your best or your most unforgettable experience during the Shell Eco Run /

Marathon

- Going to Malaysia for the competition was truly an experience in itself. But I think the 9

months put into creating the eco cars were the most unforgettable. As a student, I could

see the difference of learning in the classroom versus learning with actual hands-on

experience. Having to exploring on your own and formulating ideas for innovations for

the project down to the actual fabrication of the eco cars is very exciting to do. Doing

the project also opened up the opportunity to interact with other courses of engineering

rather than my own.

14. Who among your competitors do you think has a very promising eco car. Tell me about it.

- The team sees all of our competitors at the top of their game. In the competition, we

see their eco cars as very promising. We get to see the different innovations that they

were able to incorporate such as better aerodynamic designs (i.e. slimmer prototype

vehicles), more advanced carbon fiber materials (i.e. carbon fiber rims) or even more

compact systems. Other teams also get more in depth calculations as well as have more

advance equipment that makes results more accurate.

15. As the manager of the DLSU Eco Car Team, what is your message to the Filipino people.

- I do hope Filipino people become more conscious of green technology and in the simple

manner of improving their driving habits they can already be of help of the environment.

- My realization in this competition is that Filipinos are creative. Creativity is commonly

associated with arts and when merged with engineering, it is able to give way to

ingenuity and innovation that can bring this country a step ahead for the future.

For more photos and information, you can also check dlsu-ect.com

Agnes making sure her babies the DLSU 100 MK2 and the DLSU 101 are always in tip top condition

(Photos Courtesy of Ms. Agnes Tan Jaiphen and Gelo Ray Sison of Pinoy Loves Wheels)