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December 13, 2013

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ECO-MARATHON 2013 ROTTERDAM – HIGHLIGHTS

The Shell Eco-marathon is a competition for students to push self-built machines to the limits of fuel efficiency. Liquid-fuel cars and electric vehicles must travel a set distance with the least amount fuel or electric energy possible.

At the 2013 event in May, the top teams achieved nearly 3,000km from one litre of gasoline or a single kilowatt-hour of electricity, calculating their car’s efficiency from several ten-lap sessions completed at 25kph.

200 teams from 24 nations entered (Shell also hosts Eco-marathons in the US and Asia) and car design varied hugely. However, each fit into one of two categories. The Prototypes are built for pure efficiency – stripped to the minimum they’re ultra-streamlined and lightweight. The more practical UrbanConcept cars have upright seats, lights and windscreen wipers.

“Our hope is that students take away insights into new energies and how to solve real problems,” says Norman Koch, technical director of Shell Eco-marathon, who oversees technical and safety inspections. “We want them, in their future lives, to have an appreciation for the energy challenge that lies ahead of us and a backpack of ideas and knowledge about how to address it.”

Although innovative design and advances are a given at the three global events, Shell isn’t using the Eco-marathons to mine for game-changing ideas. Instead, it hopes to inspire participants to consider a future in science or engineering.

It’s part of Shell’s commitment to what it calls Smarter Mobility. With this in mind, teams choose from a variety of fuel types. “We offer seven different options to teams,” says Koch. “From gasoline and diesel, to biofuels – like ethanol and FAME – and gas-to-liquid. And there’s hydrogen for fuel cells and battery EVs.”

Source-http://www.wired.co.uk/