Shell Eco-marathon Americas will return to the Motor City for its 10th edition taking place April 22-24, 2016. Registration is now open for high school and university students from across the Americas to showcase their passion for technological innovation and energy efficiency on the streets of downtown Detroit. The challenge: design and build a vehicle that goes the farthest on the least amount of energy. Student teams are aiming to beat the current Americas record, which is equivalent to 3,587 miles per gallon.
Over the past nine editions, Shell Eco-marathon Americas has grown from just 19 teams in 2007 in Fontana, California, to 113 teams this past April in Detroit, Michigan. Six of those original 19 teams continue to push the boundaries of energy efficiency and most recently participated in the April competition. In 2007, student teams only had a choice of three energy sources to power their vehicles. Today, students choose from seven energy sources with traditional options like gasoline and diesel and some that OEMs are exploring for consumer transport alternatives as well: hydrogen, electricity, ethanol, Gas-to-Liquid (GTL), and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
“Building the car allowed me to learn a lot about the process of engineering … and then it also allowed me to start thinking in that mindset of how do you create something from scratch, how do you start with nothing and come up with a design,” says former team member of Granite Falls High School and 2015 MIT Civil Engineering graduate, Shante Stowell.
Besides being an academic engineering competition and an opportunity to learn about energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and innovation, Shell Eco-marathon Americas inspires thousands of students, fosters their creativity and encourages technical innovation to address the energy challenges the world faces today and tomorrow. With technology constantly evolving, the foundational STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills students learn and apply by being a part of Shell Eco-marathon – from designing their vehicle’s initial concept, building their innovative designs, to ultimately aiming to drive the farthest with the least energy to win – also prepares students for the world beyond their desks.
“Shell Eco-marathon can equip students with valuable, practical hands-on experience and prepares them to be the next generation of automotive innovators,” said Adrian Juergens, Shell Eco-marathon Americas technical director.
Taking place April 22-24, the 2016 challenge is already shaping up with more than 20 teams pre-registered from schools in Michigan, California, Indiana, Missouri, Texas, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela and more. The festival-like weekend in Detroit will also feature a free, family-friendly interactive experience inside Cobo Center for the general public.
Interested educators, students and teams are invited to sign-up for the Shell Eco-marathon 2016 mileage challenge until Nov. 16 and help push the boundaries of energy efficiency. For more information on the 2016 event, including vehicle class requirements, official rules, prizing and to register a team online, visit the Shell Eco-marathon Americas participant site at www.shell.com/semamericas.
