The Garuda UNY Team is set to advance to the final round of the 2025 Energy-Efficient Car Contest (Kontes Mobil Hemat Energi/KMHE) after being officially confirmed as a finalist. The team successfully passed a series of selection stages, including administrative screening, vehicle design report evaluation, and an online Virtual Technical Inspection.
KMHE is a national-level competition organized by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa) under the Directorate General of Higher Education (Ditjen Dikti), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), in collaboration with the University of Jember (UNEJ) as the host. The competition attracts participation from universities across Indonesia and will take place on 23–26 October 2025 at the UNEJ campus. In the final stage, the Garuda UNY Team, along with other finalists, will undergo a series of vehicle performance and efficiency tests on a 9.7-kilometer circuit.
This year, the Garuda UNY Team is fielding two energy-efficient vehicles: Urban Concept MPD Ethanol, managed by Fadhil Akmal, an undergraduate student of Manufacturing Engineering, and Urban Concept MPD Gasoline, managed by Arvin Maulana Hafizh, an undergraduate student of Automotive Engineering Education.
The team’s participation has been strongly supported by the Rector of UNY and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, who have provided adequate facilities and infrastructure for research and development. This support reflects UNY’s commitment to empowering students to create environmentally friendly technological innovations, in line with the university’s vision to promote sustainable and innovative technologies and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As the team’s advisor, Dr. Sutiman, S.Pd., M.T., emphasized that the journey toward KMHE 2025 has required high levels of dedication and perseverance from all team members. “Every stage, from vehicle design to performance testing, has been carried out with great enthusiasm. Our goal is not only to win, but also to develop students’ critical thinking, innovation, and teamwork skills,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Fadhil Akmal, Manager of the Garuda UNY Team, noted that the team’s journey has been marked by both technical and mental challenges. “Throughout our preparation for KMHE, we have conducted extensive research and vehicle testing. Many obstacles emerged in the field, but our motivation to represent UNY and the Faculty of Engineering has driven us to deliver our best performance,” he said.
With strong determination and support from various stakeholders, the Garuda UNY Team remains optimistic about achieving outstanding results at KMHE 2025 and continuing to enhance the reputation of UNY on the national innovation stage.
