The classroom buzzed faintly with the sound of the air conditioning and the muffled chatter of students in the hallway. Inside, Matthew and his group had commandeered the front row, transforming their usual study space into a professional presentation setup. On the table, neatly arranged beside the projector they had borrowed from the I.T faculty, sat their printed proposal papers and a neatly stacked Jollibee takeout order.
Leo paced near the whiteboard, his hands fidgeting with his phone, occasionally glancing at the clock above the door.
"Five minutes. Five freaking minutes until the panel arrives. I swear, I can feel my heart trying to escape my chest."
"Relax," Matthew said, sitting casually at one of the desks with his arms draped over the chair's backrest. He looked completely at ease, as if they were waiting for a casual group study session instead of a potentially career-defining panel presentation.
"Easy for you to say, Mr. Chill," Saimon muttered, double-checking the HDMI cable connection to the projector. "You're not the one who has to answer the technical questions if they drill into the chassis design. I'm going to freeze if they ask about structural integrity."
Samantha, seated by the window, appeared calm, her usual ice-cold princess demeanor firmly in place. But as she flipped through the pages of the proposal for the third time, her fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk—a rare tell that betrayed her stress.
"Stop worrying," she said, her voice even but softer than usual. "We've practiced this enough. We know the paper inside out. Just stick to the script."
Leo glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. "Right. Because you're the picture of tranquility over there."
Samantha shot him a look, but the slight tension in her jaw was evident. "Unlike you two, I'm not falling apart. This is just…concentration."
Matthew chuckled. "I'd say Samantha's cracked ice-cold façade is the biggest surprise of the day."
Samantha glared at him, though it lacked her usual bite. "Focus, Matthew. You're the one who has to lead this thing."
"Relax, Sergeant," Matthew said with a grin. "I've got this."
The classroom door creaked open, and all heads snapped toward it. A student poked their head in, glanced around, and left without saying anything.
Matthew knew the intention of that student. He may be planning on staying in a vacant airconditioned room and chill. Happens all the time on campus when one have long vacants.
Leo groaned. "That's it. My nerves are shot. Why did we agree to this deal? We could've picked something simple, like, I don't know, a water purifier or a can crusher."
"Because simple won't cut it," Matthew reminded him, standing up and brushing off his slack. "Now stop panicking. We've got this."
The clock struck 10:00 AM, and the atmosphere shifted. The classroom door swung open, and three professors walked in.
Leading the trio was Mr. Calerio, his sharp eyes scanning the room like a hawk surveying its prey. Behind him was Mr. Abad Santos, a stout man known for his no-nonsense attitude and a reputation for tearing apart even the most well-prepared proposals. Bringing up the rear was Mr. Lucena, tall and wiry, with an intimidatingly quiet demeanor that many students found even more unnerving than outright criticism.
"Good morning," Mr. Calerio said, his tone curt as he set his folder down on the desk reserved for the panel. He gave the Jollibee bags a quick glance but said nothing.
"Morning, professors," Matthew greeted, stepping forward with an easy smile. His calm confidence was a stark contrast to Saimon and Leo, who stood frozen by the projector, and Samantha, whose usual composure now looked strained.
"Let's begin," Mr. Abad Santos said, settling into his chair with a heavy sigh. "We have a tight schedule, and I hope this is worth our time."
"Yes, sir," Matthew replied, gesturing toward the projector. "We're ready to present."
Mr. Lucena nodded slightly, his face unreadable. "Proceed."
Saimon fumbled with the remote, muttering a quiet curse as the projector flickered to life. The first slide appeared on the screen: "Feasibility Study for a Compact Electric Vehicle Prototype."
Matthew took his place in front of the class, standing tall and composed.
"Good morning, professors. Thank you for taking the time to review our proposal. My name is Matthew, and these are my teammates—Samantha, Saimon, and Leo. Today, we'll be presenting a comprehensive study on a compact electric vehicle prototype designed for efficiency, affordability, and environmental sustainability."
Matthew clicked to the next slide, which displayed a simplified diagram of their proposed compact electric vehicle. His voice was steady and confident as he explained.
"Our project focuses on creating a compact electric vehicle prototype. The goal is to design a vehicle that is not only cost-effective but also sustainable, addressing the growing demand for eco-friendly transportation. We've broken the project into three phases: feasibility, prototyping, and optimization. Today's presentation will focus on our feasibility study."
The professors remained stoic, their pens scratching against their notepads as Matthew moved seamlessly through the technical details.
"Our EV features a permanent magnet synchronous motor for high torque and efficiency, paired with a custom-built battery pack utilizing repurposed lithium-ion cells. We've prioritized lightweight materials for the chassis, combining aluminum and high-strength steel to balance strength and weight."
Mr. Abad Santos raised a hand, his expression sharp. "You mentioned lithium-ion cells. Where are you sourcing them, and how are you ensuring safety in reusing these cells?"
Matthew nodded, anticipating the question. "We've identified a local surplus electronics supplier with a track record of selling refurbished lithium-ion cells. Each cell will undergo individual testing to ensure safety and performance. Additionally, we've integrated a battery management system to monitor voltage, temperature, and overall health of the pack, preventing overcharging and overheating."
Mr. Abad Santos seemed satisfied, though he scribbled something in his notebook.
Matthew transitioned to the next slide.
"Our calculations indicate a range of approximately 300 kilometers on a full charge, assuming optimal conditions. We've also designed the vehicle to include regenerative braking, which converts kinetic energy back into the battery during deceleration."
Mr. Lucena, silent until now, leaned forward. "And what about the structural integrity of the chassis? Have you accounted for potential load stresses, especially with a battery pack adding weight?"
Matthew gestured toward Saimon. "Saimon led the structural analysis for the chassis. He can elaborate on our findings."
Saimon's eyes widened briefly before he stepped forward, clearing his throat.
"Y-Yes, sir. For the chassis, we conducted a finite element analysis using SolidWorks simulation. The design has been optimized to withstand stress points during normal operation and impact scenarios. We prioritized cross-sectional strength for key load-bearing areas, ensuring the chassis can support the battery and passenger weight without compromising safety."
His words fumbled slightly, but the explanation was thorough. Mr. Lucena gave a small nod, and Saimon retreated to his spot, exhaling a quiet breath of relief.
Matthew picked up seamlessly. "Thank you, Saimon. Moving on, let's discuss the controller, the component responsible for managing the power delivery between the battery and motor."
As he explained the controller's functionality, Mr. Calerio interjected. "Your cost analysis—what's the estimated total cost for building this prototype? And have you considered scalability if this moves beyond a prototype?"
Matthew didn't miss a beat. "The estimated cost for the prototype is approximately ₱300,000, including sourcing refurbished parts and labor costs. For scalability, we've outlined a framework for batch production, which would reduce costs significantly through economies of scale. For example, sourcing cells in bulk could cut battery costs by nearly 40%."
Satisfied but still skeptical, Mr. Calerio leaned back, motioning for Matthew to continue.
Matthew transitioned to Samantha for the next segment. "Samantha will now cover our market feasibility study."
Samantha stood, her cool demeanor intact but with a slight tension in her voice. "Thank you, Matthew. Our market analysis indicates a growing demand for affordable electric vehicles, particularly in urban areas with high traffic congestion. The Philippines' government incentives for EV adoption, such as tax exemptions and subsidies, further support the viability of this project."
She faltered briefly, searching for the right words, but recovered quickly. "We also conducted surveys to gauge interest. Around 72% of respondents expressed willingness to consider EVs if priced competitively. This aligns with our objective of affordability without compromising performance."
The panel nodded, and Matthew resumed the presentation, walking them through the final slides on testing procedures and risk assessment.
As the presentation concluded, the room was quiet. The panel exchanged glances before Mr. Calerio spoke. "Questions."
Mr. Lucena leaned forward again, his gaze sharp. "Your testing phase includes subsystem verification. If the motor and controller fail to communicate during integration, how do you plan to troubleshoot?"
Matthew smiled, prepared for the challenge. "We've planned for incremental testing during assembly. First, the motor and controller will be tested with a standalone setup. If communication fails, we'll isolate the issue by checking the signal paths, starting with the controller's output and motor's input. Backup controllers and diagnostic software will also be on-site for immediate troubleshooting."
The answer was precise, leaving no room for follow-up questions.
Mr. Abad Santos eyed Leo. "Tell me, how do you plan to ensure the vehicle's powertrain operates at maximum efficiency?"
Leo straightened nervously, gripping the edge of the table. "U-Um, by optimizing the controller's settings for our motor's characteristics. We'll also monitor real-time data during testing and adjust the motor's torque and speed curves accordingly. A-And we've considered aerodynamics to reduce drag, which will also improve efficiency."
His words came out rushed but accurate, earning him a nod from Mr. Abad Santos.
After several more questions—each answered with precision—the panel finally sat back, their pens resting on their notepads. Mr. Calerio looked at his colleagues, then back at the group.
"Well, I have to admit, this is more thorough than I expected. You've answered all our questions. Let's see how you execute this in Capstone 2."
"Wait…you are saying…" Matthew spoke.
"Yes... you passed," Calerio declared, his sharp tone softened by a hint of approval.
For a moment, the words hung in the air, their weight sinking into the group like a slow tide. Saimon and Leo exchanged wide-eyed glances, barely able to believe what they'd just heard. Samantha's hand, resting on the edge of the desk, tightened its grip as if anchoring her to reality. Matthew, however, remained poised, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips.
"Not only did you pass," Mr. Lucena added, his expression less severe than usual, "but you exceeded our expectations. It's rare to see this level of preparation and technical understanding in a Capstone 1 defense."
Mr. Abad Santos leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "I'll admit, I was prepared to tear this apart. But you anticipated every question and addressed each one thoroughly. It's clear you've put thought into every aspect of this project."
"You've even managed to work as a cohesive team," Mr. Lucena continued, glancing briefly at Samantha. "Despite a few nerves, each of you contributed meaningfully to the presentation. That's impressive."
Leo, unable to contain himself, muttered, "We actually did it…" under his breath, earning a quick nudge from Saimon to stay professional.
"Don't get cocky," Mr. Calerio said, his tone returning to its usual sternness. "This is just the beginning. Capstone 2 will require you to turn these ideas into reality. If you fail there, all of this will have been for nothing."
"Understood, sir," Matthew replied confidently. "We're ready for the challenge."