EP 4 - Let's Talk energy and engines with Ipeleng Mathebula

In this episode of Let's Talk Science with Thuli we chat to mechanical engineer Ipeleng Mathebula about energy in the context of car engines. We also chat about what it's like to be a garage engineer as opposed to conducting research for another institution. 

In this episode of Let's Talk Beyond Science with Thuli we chat more about the challenges and joys of running his own R&D company. We chat about an important issue around the focal points of education and its focus on marks rather than building holistic individuals. We also chat about how he met his wife and about the lessons he's learnt from parenting. 

Various public and private entities are aiming to achieve the global net zero target around 2050; hence, Ipeleng is working towards applying his expertise to understand the operational limits of combustion engines as a tool for enabling emerging markets like South Africa and other SADC countries to leverage on the economy of scale provided by existing production lines to transition to alternative fuels like biogas, synthetic gas and hydrogen. The planned work includes assisting vehicle manufacturers and fleet managers with benchmarking operations and identifying R&D interventions for reducing the fuel consumptions of heavy-duty trucks and light-duty vehicles. 

Ipeleng is the founder of Boost Mechanics which is a R&D start-up company that I founded to package my knowledge in vehicles and combustion engines. A turbocharging patent based on a first principles approach was conceived and later tested as prototype in engine and vehicle testing laboratories with grant funding invested by the Technology Innovation Agency
and The Innovation Hub. These laboratory tests include light-duty vehicle testing in accordance with New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and World Harmonised Transient Cycle (WHTC) for heavy-duty trucks. The experience accumulated to date has positioned me to contribute as a co-presenter of the postgraduate combustion engines course and register as a PhD student for investigating the energy transition pathway for last- mile logistics in South Africa.