Student-built prototype vehicle stretches boundaries of fuel efficiency

April 23, 2008

“Ladies and gentlemen, start your fuel-efficient engines” werethe words that kicked off the 2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas—and that's exactly what more than 300 students from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. did. While no Canadian team snagged the top honour, a Quebec team did make it into the Top 5.

The new mileage record was set by Evansville, Ind.-based Mater Dei High School when given the challenge to design, build and test fuel-efficient prototype vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel.

The team's combustion-engine prototype vehicle achieved 2,843.4 miles per gallon, equivalent to 1,208.6 kilometers per liter.  Despite wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour and various teams' mechanical issues, competition was steep this year with three teams breaking the 2007 mileage record set by Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Meanwhile, a 17-member team from Universite Laval in Quebec had a slightly rougher time getting started after their project was on hold for two days waiting for their vehicle to clear U.S. customs. With only one day left to compete, the team worked well into the night to fully assemble their car and clear inspection within 12 hours.  In their first attempt, the team moved into fifth place.

“It was a nice outcome that we got the car,” Raphael Desiletes-Aube said. “We used the spare time to organize the fastest way to reassemble the vehicle. Once the car got here, it really motivated my team members to push harder so we could get the car out on the track.”

Mark Singer, global project manager for the Shell Eco-marathon said, “Students participating in this competition are the brains of the future, stretching the boundaries of fuel efficiency and providing solutions to the global energy challenge. Throughout the two-day competition, teams are constantly making improvements to their vehicles, exchanging ideas and inspiring one another to pay attention to their own energy footprint.”

The event welcomed 32 teams from four high schools and 23 universities. The entries included 25 vehicles powered by combustion engines, four by fuel cell/hydrogen technology, one by diesel fuel, one by LPG (liquid petroleum gas) and two by solar power.
www.shell.com/us/ecomarathon