Interview with Car Maker Kong Pharith
Download this episode (15 min)
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have met with Mr. Kong Phairth, a Cambodian teacher in his late 40s. He has a great story to tell us about how he made his first car, which looks like an orange jeep that takes 4 months and $ 5,000 a unit, a cost that could confound car manufacturers across the region.
He had taught physics and math since 1991 in Cambodia, and later worked for different non-governmental organizations as a vocational trainer. With a unique method to get success without spoiling other people's success, he made the headlines in 2005 by producing bicycles run by solar engery. He said he now wanted to step up to the next level as an rising Cambodian scholar. So he worked his way to finish his first solar-powered car which has yet to be named.
Please have a great listen. Thank you.
1. How long had you spent working on your first car?
+ I started working on February and completed the work on June. I worked on and off, but I had worked non-stop, I'd have finished it within one or two months.
2. Have there been any foreign and local guests who showed their interest in your work?
+ Yes, there have been some people like Khmer from Australia and Khmer living here. But it's my first trial, so it's not yet perfect. If I want to sell my products, I will make it better. There's a lot of room of improvement. It's only my experiement. Thus, the quality stays in a limited condition.
3. What about your previous product, solar-powered bicycles? When were they made?
+ They were made in 2005. Now, more and more people come and order the bicycles from me. A Khmer living in France is interested in investing in the solar-powered bicycles with me. The biycle equipped with solar energy costs around 480 dollars.
4. What kind of material was your car made of? imported materials or home-made ones?
+ The car was installed with an old Russian motor big enough to pull a car. We chose solar equippment of 'Sharp' brand. For gear controllers, we installed them there. Of course, some materials were imported from abroad. The orange colour and the car's appearance were designed by myself. We just asked a car specialist to install everything as ordered.
5. What are the peculiar features of your car?
+ It has a 'hybrid' system -- rather-- a pre-brid which offers 3 possibilities that the car can be operated through solar engery, electricity or gasoline.
6. Could you please let us know how the idea to make the car was initiated?
+ The idea behind that is that I want to switch to being a scholar. I want a success that we can achieve and that we don't ruin our environment or spoil other peoploe's success. I want others to know that Cambodia also has wise and hardworking people who have creativity to invent something new, not that we can't even produce tooth-picks. It is something that I want to encourage Khmer people to believe in ourselves and the fact that we can do it. And I have spoken a lot to ABC Radio Australia about all these ideas which have been broadcast in 20 different parts.
7. How do you feel about your achievement?
+ I'm very happy about this achievement in that particular condition...but I'm not very satisfied with it yet.. because we can see that we can do it better than this.. but because we lacked material to make or produceit, we have made it with this quality. I see chances and loopholes to make a better one next time.
8 How useful is your achievement to society?
+ As we simply think, it's very useful. It has encouraged people to becoe more confident in themselves. Second, it helps encourage people to go for tech stuff. I have worked with other car staff and my students. I have taught some Khmer students about that while making the car. Third, I think that I can take part to make Khmer use solar power which saves a lot of money especially if they are used in the countryside...
Posted by DMC-Radio at 12:16 AM | MAKE A COMMENT
Friday, Aug 14, 2009Introduction to DMCRadio
Download this episode (51 sec)
Intro
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome to the DMCradio Broacasting System.
Today with me KK, I'd like to bring you to the introduction of our radio programs, and what we'd like to offer to you listeners. The DMC Broacasting System isn't affiliated to any school, univeristy or organization. It's a completely individual work, done by me KK to provide you with a new insight.
We hope you'll enjoy listening to our next programs. Thank you!
Posted by DMC-Radio at 4:19 AM | 2 comments
My Profile
DMC-Radio
View my complete profile
Links
Recent Posts
X-mas in Cambodia, 2008Archives
Aug 2009
Dec 2008
