Shell Eco-Marathon Asia

[B]Singapore, 5 December 2008[/B] - The Shell Eco-marathon (SEM), a fuel efficiency challenge encouraging technology and innovation among today's youth, continues to expand across the globe. Shell announced today it will hold the inaugural Shell Eco-marathon Asia in Malaysia in July 2010. The programme will stretch over three (3) days and be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia will host the annual event from 2010 till 2012. Thereafter it will be brought to another Asian country to host for the subsequent three (3) years.

For the last two years, a team from the National University of Singapore participated in the European Shell Eco-marathon - it was one of two teams to use Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) fuel for the first time in 2008, and is in the process of building a new car for the 2009 SEM Europe. It was also the only team from South East Asia to participate in the SEM Europe event.

The SEM may not be the fastest race you've seen, but it's probably the most fuel efficient. The programme challenges student teams to design and build energy efficient vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel. Open to high schools, colleges, universities and technical institutes, the programme challenges student teams to put their innovations to the test in two vehicle categories: "Prototype," or futuristic, streamlined vehicles focused on maximising fuel efficiency through innovative design elements, and "Urban Concept," focused on more "roadworthy" fuel-efficient vehicles. For both categories, teams can use any of the following fuels to power their vehicles: conventional fuels such as diesel, gasoline and LPG or alternative fuels such as fuel cells/hydrogen, bio-fuel, solar and Gas-to-liquid (GTL).

Shell has been running the SEM in Europe for nearly 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 SEM to Asia helps make this programme a true global initiative for Shell.

Commented Dato' Saw Choo-Boon, Country Chairman, Shell Malaysia, "We are delighted to host the inaugural Shell Eco-marathon event in Malaysia. The significance of this event goes beyond it being a Malaysian event. It is essentially an Asian event. We believe Asia is ready to take on this challenge alongside the student teams in Europe and the Americas. There is tremendous capability and talent here, and by holding the Shell Eco-marathon in Asia we enable more student teams in the region to participate. The Shell Eco-marathon serves as an excellent platform for them to design and build fuel-efficient vehicles and to showcase their creativity and innovativeness in meeting the energy challenge. This is the best form of education - helping students gain practical experience for the future."

Besides the prestige of winning the title of the most fuel-efficient vehicle in their respective categories, student teams stand to win attractive cash prizes for their schools.

For more information on the Shell Eco Marathon visit: http://www.shell.com/home/content/eco-marathon-en/welcome_global.html

[B][U]SHELL ECO-MARATHON FACTSHEET[/B][/U]

[B]What is the Shell Eco-marathon?[/B]

The Shell Eco-marathon began in 1939 at a Shell research laboratory in the U.S. as a friendly wager between scientists to see who could get the most miles per gallon from their vehicles. From these humble origins, the organized competition for fuel economy evolved and moved to Europe. The Shell Eco-marathon in its current form began in 1985 in France, attracting thousands of young engineers and scientists from 20 European countries. The Shell Eco-marathon Americas was first held at the California Speedway in 2007.

[B]What are the details of the challenge?[/B]
The Shell Eco-marathon is an educational project that challenges student teams to design and build the most energy-efficient vehicle to compete against other teams' vehicles. The winner is the vehicle that travels the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel.

Student teams work together to build prototype vehicles with three or four wheels, using conventional fuels, alternative fuels or energy sources such as hydrogen and solar.

[B]How many types of Vehicles are there:[/B]
1) Futuristic prototypes: streamlined vehicles where the only design consideration is reducing drag and maximizing efficiency.

2) Urban Concept vehicles, designed to meet the needs of today's drivers in a more realistic city/urban environment.

As long as teams adhere to safety rules, the design of their vehicles is limited only by their imagination.

[B]What kind of fuels can the student teams use in the race?[/B]
Teams have a choice of any of the following fuels to power their vehicles: conventional fuels such as diesel, gasoline and LPG or alternative fuels such as fuel cells/hydrogen, bio-fuel, solar and Gas to liquid (GTL).

The vehicles may use one of the following fuel or energy types:
- Shell Unleaded 95 (EU) / Shell Plus 89 (US) Petrol/Gasoline
- Shell Diesel
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
- Shell Gas To Liquid (100% GTL)
- Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (100% FAME)
- Ethanol E100 (100% Ethanol)
- Hydrogen
- Solar

[B]Breakdown of Vehicle categories for SEM Europe 08:[/B]
75% Prototypes; 25% UrbanConcept vehicles - an increase of 40% over 07

- 4 fuel categories: gasoline, diesel, LPG and alternative energy sources including bio fuels, hydrogen, Gas To Liquid (GTL) and solar

- alternative energies being the second most popular category after gasoline

- Total team selection consists of one third secondary schools and two thirds universities

[B]Current Record for Prototypes[/B]
1. Lyce La Joliverie (France): Prototype Combustion Engine 3,382 km/l

2. University of Applied Sciences (Germany): Prototype Fuel Cell/Hydrogen 3,198 km/l

[B]Current Record for Urban Concept[/B]

1. De Haagse Hogeschool/TH Rijswijk Academie voor Engineering (The Netherlands): Urban Concept Fuel Cell/Hydrogen 848 km/l

[B]When is the event taking place in Europe & Americas for 09?[/B]
[U]SEM Americas:[/U]
Venue: Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.
Date: 15 - 18 April 09

[U]SEM Europe:[/U]
Venue: Eurospeedway Lausitz (near Berlin)
Date: 7 - 9 May 09

[B]When & where is the event taking place in Asia?[/B]
The inaugural event will be held in July 2010 at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

[B]Where I can more information on the Shell Eco Marathon:[/B]
Visit: http://www.shell.com/home/content/eco-marathon-en/welcome_global.html

[B]For more information on the rules:[/B]
Visit: http://www.shell.com/home/content/eco-marathon-en/rules_09/2009_rules_081908.html

Credits: JRC