At IFP School, student engagement is taking on a new dimension with the creation of an association dedicated to mobility projects, founded by two students from the Energy and Powertrains (MOT) Specialized Engineering program (Class of 2026).
Named “IFP Students,” this new structure aims to bring together students and graduates around concrete mobility projects, offering them the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired at the School.
Behind this initiative: David Melin, an apprentice at Alpine Racing, and Henri-Louis Wacheux, an apprentice at Inocel Advanced Technology, both eager to put into practice in the field the knowledge gained at IFP School.
“Through this association, we want to provide a framework in which students can apply the skills acquired at IFP School on projects that reflect real industrial challenges,” explains Henri-Louis.
“We also want to create synergies between IFP School students, IFPEN, and partner companies to bring ambitious and meaningful projects to life,” he adds.
David and Henri-Louis have already defined two initial flagship projects for the association.
First objective: to take part in the Twing Raid 2027, a demanding solidarity car rally that represents an ideal testing ground for showcasing the skills developed at IFP School’s Powertrains and Sustainable Mobility Center.
The following year, the association aims to take on a second challenge by taking part in the legendary 4L Trophy with a hybrid vehicle.
An Extreme but Humanitarian Rally
Aboard an optimized petrol-powered Renault Twingo, the IFP Students crew will set off from Irún, in the San Sebastián region of Spain, with the aim of reaching Marrakech, Morocco, in ten days.
The challenge involves covering nearly 4,000 km while seeking to minimize the vehicle’s carbon footprint. To achieve this, the crew plans to overhaul the engine of their Twingo, improve its efficiency and adapt it to the use of e-fuels. The students also plan to optimize the exhaust aftertreatment system to meet the latest emissions standards (European standards 6 or 7).
“This project is a genuine technical challenge. It directly draws on several areas of teaching at IFP School, particularly in mechanics, synthetic fuel formulation, and emissions aftertreatment,” emphasizes David Melin.
Beyond its technical scope, this adventure also has a humanitarian dimension. IFP Students aims to support the Fondation MJID and the association Enfants du désert, which are committed to improving access to education in remote areas of Morocco, notably through the delivery of school and extracurricular supplies.
To bring this first project to life, the members of IFP Students are currently seeking industrial support, both technical and financial.
The 4L Trophy
In parallel, IFP Students is already preparing its participation in the 4L Trophy 2028.
This forward planning is essential to design and test a vehicle capable of meeting the demands of this 12-day rally-raid in the heart of the Moroccan desert.
Beyond the challenges posed by sand, rocky tracks, and dunes, the IFP Students crew has chosen to take on this challenge with a hybrid vehicle, a particularly ambitious technological choice given the mechanical and energy constraints of the route.
“Here again, we will make use of the skills acquired at IFP School. We are going to work on retrofitting an iconic vehicle and hope to integrate an electric powertrain with a custom control system,” specifies Henri-Louis.
This powertrain will be built around a battery, supplemented by a range extender: a small combustion engine operating at its optimal efficiency range and powered by e-fuels, with a view to reducing CO2.
To carry out this project successfully, the association is seeking the support and expertise of industrial partners across several areas: electric traction motors, automotive batteries, range extender and hybrid powertrain control strategy.
Do you represent a company or organization and wish to support one of the two projects led by IFP Students? Contact Henri-Louis Wacheux (henri-louis.wacheux.2026@ifp-school.com).
Article written by Meyling Siu