Shell's super-mileage challenge is designed to inspire student innovation and help develop future fuel-saving technologies for transportation performance. And to help meet the growing energy demand and reduce future CO2 emissions, Shell Eco-marathon Asia challenges its participants to design, build, and test vehicles to go the farthest distance using the least amount of energy.
Teams can join in one or both of the “Prototype” and “UrbanConcept” classes. Streamlined futuristic prototypes enter the “Prototype” category - focused on maximizing fuel efficiency through innovative design elements, such as drag reduction. The “UrbanConcept” class, on the other hand, focuses on more “roadworthy” fuel-efficient vehicles - aimed at meeting the real-life needs of drivers and look more like road-going vehicles. This year, there's a total of 91 “Prototype” and 44 “UrbanConcept” entries from the region.
A prize money totaling US$ 42,000 is at stake at the 2012 Shell Eco-marathon Asia. The first prize of US$ 2,000 will be awarded to the winning team in each fuel category listed, followed by the second prize of US$ 1,000. New off-track awards valued at US$ 1,000 each are also available for “Eco-Design”, “Best Team Spirit”, and “Perseverance in the Face of Adversity”.
Last year’s Shell Eco-marathon Asia winner in the Prototype internal combustion engine category, Luk Jao Mae Khlong Prapa from Thailand, recorded an amazing 2,213.4 km on one liter of fuel.
The Shell Eco-marathon Asia will be hosted again at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2013, after which the regional event will take place in Manila, Philippines from 2014 to 2016. For more information on the 2012 Shell Eco-marathon, visit the Shell Eco-marathon website at www.shell.com/ecomarathon.
