News and Media Releases

Not the Average Spring Break

03/04/2008

2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas welcomes 36 teams from the U.S., Canada and Mexico as they prepare to help the world use less fuel.

While many “spring breakers” spend their time enjoying some rest and relaxation with fellow students, 36 teams from across the United States, Canada and Mexico are hard at work putting the finishing touches on their high-mileage, fuel-saving prototype vehicles.

After months of plotting, planning and pushing the limits, these students are down to the wire as they work to complete their vehicles for the 2008 Shell Eco-marathon™ Americas – a global mileage challenge and forum for current and future leaders who are passionate about finding sustainable solutions to the world’s energy challenge.

“We realize the future of transportation ultimately depends on alternative energy sources,” said David Ulrich, student team leader of the Cal Poly team, who set the Shell Eco-marathon Americas record in 2007 with an astonishing 1,902.7 miles per gallon (809 kilometers per litre). “And as an engineering student, being given the opportunity to design and build fuel-efficient vehicles is an important part of gaining practical experience for the future.”

Taking place April 10-12 at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., the challenge tests students to design and build eco-friendly vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel. From vehicle design to financing, student teams manage their projects from start to finish. The winning team receives a grand prize of $10,000 U.S. dollars for their school.

The 2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas roster contains 36 teams from five high schools and 24 universities from the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The entries include 27 vehicles powered by combustion engines, five by fuel cell/hydrogen technology, one by diesel fuel, one by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and two by solar power. 
 
See the 2008 teams.

To help ensure the 2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas is a successful event for all the student participants, Shell is pleased to welcome the 2008 event sponsors:

SKF USA Inc. – As one of the leading global suppliers of products, solutions and services in the areas of rolling bearings, seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems, SKF is providing up to $1,000 in equipment and engineering support for the student teams (www.skfusa.com). 

Autodesk – Autodesk, a world leader in design innovation technology, is recognized as a Shell Eco-marathon global sponsor. Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets (www.autodesk.com).

Michelin – Michelin, a sponsor of Shell Eco-marathon in Europe, is providing low-rolling resistance tires for use in the competition and offering them to the student teams at a discounted rate. Michelin is also engaging students to understand how tires effect fuel economy and how the same principles relate their project cars to vehicles in the real-world (www.michelinman.com).

Pennzoil - Pennzoil is providing one quart of Pennzoil Platinum ® full synthetic motor oil for each student team, along with technical support. The active cleansing agents in Pennzoil Platinum® help remove built-up dirt and deposits 3X better than the leading conventional oil*. Pennzoil is the most preferred motor oil brand in America, and its line of quality products meets or exceeds industry specifications to offer exceptional engine protection. (www.pennzoil.com). 

With many successful years in Europe, the Shell Eco-marathon came back to the U.S. as the Shell Eco-marathon Americas in April 2007. The Eco-marathon concept started as the Shell Mileage Marathon in 1939 between employees of Shell at a research laboratory in Wood River, Illinois. Today, the Americas event extends to student teams from across North and South America.

In Europe, the 2008 Shell Eco-marathon project will take place May 22-24 at the Nogaro Circuit, France. The 2007 European event attracted teams from 20 countries, with the winning teams hailing from Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Norway.

For more information on the Shell Eco-marathon Americas, please visit  www.shell.com/us/ecomarathon.

Shell Oil Company, including its consolidated companies and its share in equity companies, is one of America's leading oil and natural gas producers, natural gas marketers, gasoline marketers and petrochemical manufacturers.

Shell, a leading oil and gas producer in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, is a recognized pioneer in oil and gas exploration and production technology.  Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Shell Group, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies, employing approximately 112,000 people and operating in more than 130 countries and territories.