Commented Mavis Kuek, Shell Eco-marathon Asia Project Manager: “We are delighted to receive such overwhelming response for the inaugural event. This speaks well of the many young people in the region. They are clearly keen to be involved in finding more innovative and energy efficient solutions for a sustainable future.”
Open to high schools, colleges, universities and technical institutes, SEM challenges student teams to put their innovations to the test in two vehicle categories: Prototype - futuristic, streamlined vehicles focused on maximising fuel efficiency through innovative design elements; and Urban Concept - focused on more roadworthy fuel-efficient vehicles.
The 2010 challenge will present vehicles powered by gasoline, gas to liquids or GTL, hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol and solar energy.
In terms of vehicle types, about 72% of the entrants for SEM Asia 2010 have selected to build prototype vehicles which are more futuristic while 28% have entered their vehicle in the urban concept category which focuses on the more conventional four-wheel roadworthy criteria.
Teams have begun submitting their technical drawings which will be assessed by Shell fuels specialists to ensure each vehicle is technically sound and complies with the 2010 rules and regulations. As long as teams adhere to safety rules and technical guidelines, the design of their vehicles is limited only by their sheer imagination.
In its current form, SEM began in 1985 in France and has been running in Europe for nearly 25 years now and in the United States since 2007. The event in Europe has grown to include participation from more than 200 teams each year.
The strong entry list for SEM Asia 2010 reflects the passion and interest of Asian youths in finding practical solutions towards sustainable mobility and addressing various challenges with regard to energy availability and usage.
This has also been evidenced by the increased participation from Asia in the SEM Europe held in Berlin in May this year with three teams from Singapore, four teams from Pakistan, and one each from Thailand, China and Malaysia.
“The Shell Eco-marathon is proud to engage enterprising young inventors who will speed up the progress in innovation for more fuel-efficient solutions for the future. Getting vehicles that can travel the furthest distance using the least amount of fuel is something which almost every motorist aspire for,” said Dato’ Saw Choo Boon, Shell Malaysia Chairman.
Malaysia will host the annual Shell Eco-Marathon Asia from 2010 till 2012. Thereafter, it will be brought to another Asian country to host.
Participating teams have approximately eight months from now before they rev up their engines for the challenge. Some teams are already working round the clock to ensure that they would have a head start and make an impact at the prestigious fuel-efficiency challenge next year, including finding sponsors and ordering parts to build their vehicles.
Summary of entries by country|
| China | 2 |
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| India | 6 |
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| Indonesia | 9 |
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| Iran | 3 |
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| Malaysia | 26 |
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| Pakistan | 30 |
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| Philippines | 3 |
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| Singapore | 9 |
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| Taiwan | 1 |
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| Thailand | 19 |
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| Vietnam | 1 |
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| Total | 109 |
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For enquiries, please contact:
Caroline Loke (Ms)
Project Coordinator, SEM Asia, Shell Companies in Singapore
Tel.: +65 6215 1218; Mobile: +65 9656 9688
E-mail: Caroline.Loke@shell.com
About Shell Eco-Marathon
The Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) is Shell’s flagship event championing fuel economy. It is about distance, not speed. The competition challenges student teams to design and build energy-efficient vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel. Together with initiatives such as Shell FuelSave Challenge and a Guinness World Record for fuel economy, Shell is at the forefront of fuel economy technology and encouraging consumers to think about fuel efficiency solutions that can contribute to help us meet the world’s growing energy demand. In the 2009 edition of SEM Europe, the Microjoule team from St Joseph La Joliverie in Nantes, France, competed using an internal combustion Prototype vehicle and broke the long-standing record of 3,410km - set by a team from the same school five years earlier - by clocking a groundbreaking total distance of 3,771km run on a litre of gasoline (petrol). Shell has been running the SEM in Europe for 25 years, where the event has grown to include more than 200 teams, thousands of spectators and widespread media attention. In 2007, the event was brought to the Americas with much success. Bringing the competition to Asia helps make this programme a true global initiative for Shell.
