TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Sunardi Saputra happily rode on the becak (pedicab) named "Belis SMK Piri 1 Yogyakarta, Anti-Lelet, Anti-BBM, Anti-Polusi" (Belis SMK Piri 1 Yogyakarta, Anti-Slow, Anti-Fuel, Anti-Polution) at the Yogyakarta Educational Exhibition yesterday. He rode on the solar cell energy becak around the exhibition involving 33 schools held from May 13 to May 17 at the Vredeburg Fort Museum in Yogyakarta.
The senior high school students majoring in electrical engineering at SMK 1 Piri in Yogyakarta said the becakincluded a 1.5-meter solar cell panel and could go up to 20 kilometers per hour with a distance of maximum 60 kilometers if the battery is full.
The Belis, or becak listrik (electric becak) was designed by Sunardi and five of his friends from November to December 2012, with a total budget of Rp14.5 million (around US$ 1,400).
Raden Sunarto, the head of the team of teachers who were advisors for the Belis project, said the Research and Technology Ministry is interested in the creation. The ministry will allocate additional funds for the second generation design of the Belis.
Meanwhile, at the Yogyakarta Technology Industry High School stand, Ihsan Setia Budi was aggressively promoting his product: eggshell brownies. "We made this because eggshells are rich in calcium," said the junior majoring in chemical analysis.
Tempo took time to taste the sweet dessert, which was crunchy due to the eggshells combined with flour and chocolate. Ihsan said he named his creation "Browcanglur". It won a consolation prize at the Central Java research competition held at the end of 2012 at Sebelas Maret University in Solo.
ADDI MAWAHIBUN IDHOM