The Pandawa Team from Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) recorded a strong performance at the 2025 Energy-Efficient Car Contest (Kontes Mobil Hemat Energi/KMHE), finishing in the top tier of competitors after securing fourth place in the national event held from Oct. 23 to Oct. 27.
The competition was organised by Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology in cooperation with the University of Jember. Pandawa took part in the Urban Internal Combustion Engine–Ethanol category and achieved fuel efficiency of 276.361 kilometres per litre, placing UNNES among leading Indonesian universities active in the development of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicle technologies.
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Ahmad Khusom Kurniawan, general manager of the Pandawa Team, said the outcome would be used as a foundation for further technical improvement. “Through this achievement, we will use the results as evaluation and learning material to continue innovating, developing new ideas, and increasing vehicle efficiency. We hope that in future competitions, Pandawa Team can achieve even better outcomes and bring home the championship title,” he said.
KMHE is a national student engineering competition aimed at fostering creativity, innovation and collaboration in the design of environmentally conscious vehicles and alternative energy solutions.
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The event includes a multi-stage process starting with registration, followed by technical inspections to ensure compliance with safety and engineering regulations, before race sessions that serve as the main performance and efficiency tests.
UNNES said the Pandawa Team’s vehicle incorporates an aerodynamic body design, lightweight construction and an optimised propulsion system to maximise fuel efficiency. The project was developed through close collaboration between students and faculty advisers working in the field of sustainable vehicle technology and clean energy systems.
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The university added that the project aligns with its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 7 on clean energy, SDG 9 on innovation and infrastructure, and SDG 13 on climate action. UNNES promotes itself as a Conservation and Impact Campus, with research initiatives aimed at supporting long-term environmental sustainability and community well-being.