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Day 3 of BAJA SAEINDIA Showcases 2-Hour Endurance Test of hBAJA Buggies

On Day 3 of BAJA SAEINDIA 2025, the hBAJA endurance event showcased the innovation and sustainability of HCNG-powered buggies, highlighting the fusion of engineering excellence and alternative fuel technologies in a two-hour test of durability, speed, and efficiency.

January 13, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey

Day 3 of BAJA SAEINDIA brought to the fore the final showdown of the hBAJA buggies for a gruelling 2-hour endurance event.

BAJA SAEINDIA was started in 2007 for undergraduate engineering students to provide an opportunity to transform their theoretical understanding to a practical application through designing and fabricating an All-terrain Vehicle (ATV).

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways officially inaugurated the BAJA SAEINDIA 2025 and emphasised the significance of alternative fuels and systems for a sustainable future. The theme for BAJA SAEINDIA 2025, ‘Fusion 4 Future’, reflects this vision and is built on four core pillars: technology, diversity, sustainability, and connectivity. This theme embodies a commitment to creating innovative, collaborative and safe-smart-sustainable solutions for the future of mobility.

HCNG BAJA Buggy employs a blend of 5 percent Hydrogen with CNG. Hydrogen-CNG (HCNG) is a fuel mix that leverages the strengths of both hydrogen and CNG to deliver a cleaner and more efficient powertrain. The blend reduces greenhouse gas emissions, boosts fuel efficiency and decreases the reliance on traditional fossil fuels. The introduction of HCNG vehicles in this year’s BAJA SAEINDIA marks a significant shift towards integrating sustainability with competitive events.

Dr. Kaleemuddin Syed, Convener of hBAJA SAEINDIA 2025 from Greaves Cotton said, “It’s an honour to be the part of such events and facilitate coaching, training and imparting physical workshop to participants on HCNG engine and power train. I extend my congratulations to all hBAJA participants for their successful demonstration of hBAJA buggies in this event. All participating teams have taken tremendous effort from blueprint to prototyping of their buggies and shall endeavour to work on hydrogen buggies in future.”

The first day of the event saw teams undergo rigorous vehicle safety scrutiny, starting with technical inspections, weight checks and engine checks. This crucial process ensures that all participating vehicles meet the necessary safety standards and are ready to compete in the upcoming endurance event.

Following the technical checks, teams were put through a brake test to evaluate their brake performance and stopping distance, where all four wheels were required to lock simultaneously. In addition to the hands-on technical evaluations, the hBAJA teams also participated in static events designed to assess their theoretical and engineering knowledge including design, cost, sales presentation, CAE, sustainability and innovation.

Saurabh Suman, Co-convener of hBAJA SAEINDIA 2025 from Mahindra shared updates on the event over the past two days, stating, “A total of 19 teams registered for the highly anticipated hBAJA event, with 18 teams actively participating in this competition. Out of these, 15 teams successfully passed the rigorous technical inspections and 10 teams cleared the critical brake test, showcasing their precision and engineering excellence. In the end, 10 teams took on the ultimate challenge in our endurance event, pushing their creations to the limit. The dedication and hard work these students put into bringing their vehicles to life on the racetrack was truly inspiring.”

Over the course of the two-hour endurance event, teams competed not only for speed but also for the efficiency and durability of their HCNG-powered ATVs. The event pushed both the drivers and their buggies to their limits, demonstrating the practical applications of sustainable technologies in high-performance environments.

At the end of two- hours, 7 teams were still running and the endurance event winner completed 47 laps each of 1.4 km. This comes out to be approximately 65 km, where the teams refuelled 1 kg of HCNG on an average of 5 times. Thus, it gives a mileage of around 13 km/kg. While the hBAJA teams competed on the endurance track, the mBAJA teams geared up for the final showdown on January 12, 2025. The mBAJA teams participated in a series of dynamic events like acceleration tests, manoeuvrability, sled pull and suspension and traction.

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Sustainable Transport

Hydrogen-CNG Baja buggy