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Fifty student teams from North and South America? Check. Young engineers bringing innovative thinking to the future of transportation? Check. Prototype vehicles that travel nearly 2,000 miles per gallon as part of a global effort to change the way the world uses energy? Check, and check. The Shell Eco-marathon™ Americas may not be the fastest race you’ve ever seen, but it’s probably the most fuel-efficient. In 2008, the stakes are high as student teams prepare their eco-friendly vehicles to drive the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel. “Shell is working aggressively to help meet the energy challenge both head-on and long-term, and we understand the importance of encouraging technology and innovation in the minds of tomorrow’s leaders and engineers,” said David Sexton, president of Shell Oil Products U.S. “The Shell Eco-marathon promotes fuel efficiency, and we’re challenging students from North and South America to build environmentally friendly vehicles to inspire future transportation.” The 2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas will take place April 10-13 at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Student teams manage their projects from start to finish. From vehicle design to financing, students gain practical experience, while applying skills in science, technology, mathematics, business, and design. The winning team will receive a grand prize of $10,000 that will be awarded to the team’s educational institution. There are also first-, second-, and third-place prizes for vehicles in several fuel categories, including combustion engine, fuel cell/hydrogen, and solar. The challenge is open to students from across the Americas. To date, nearly 50 teams have signed up, which is nearly double the entries from the 2007 event and includes teams from Brazil, Canada, and the United States. For more information, please visit www.shell.com/eco-marathon. Interested teams can find the event application, rules, hotline number, history, and more. Registration for the 2008 event is open! |