Mar 29 2010
About 42 student teams, comprising more than 400 students, from different universities vied with each other to take the top slot in the 2010 Shell Eco-marathon Americas challenge that was held on the streets of Houston. This race is a challenge to students to design and build the most fuel-efficient vehicles that are capable of achieving the maximum mileage with minimum amount of fuel.
Laval University students bagged the top prize in the "Prototype" category achieving an amazing 2,487.5 miles per gallon, which is equal to 1,057.5 kilometers per liter. This the second time the student team from the university is winning this grand prize. The student team from Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Indiana, for the second year running took home the top prize in the “UrbanConcept" category achieving 437.2 miles per gallon, which is equal to 185.87 kilometers per liter.
President of Shell Oil Company, Marvin Odum, flagged off the race on March 27. The competition was stiff with 48 vehicles in the race. A number of teams that participated in the previous challenge were in the fray this time also with an objective to exceed the mileage set by the Laval University student team in 2009. The Laval University set a record by achieving 2,757.1 miles per gallon in 2009. Several new teams also participated in this year’s race with new innovative vehicles.
Bruno Leduc of Laval University commented that 2010 challenge was very tough and it was a new experience for the team to take part on a street course. The team spent significant amount of time and energy into the vehicle and was happy to be the winner of the Shell Eco-marathon Americas champions for second time, Leduc said.
Student teams from high schools and colleges across the Americas were invited to take part in either UrbanConcept or Prototype categories. Futuristic prototypes designed to yield maximum mileage took part in the Prototype category. Student teams entered fuel-efficient vehicles that are roadworthy and practical in the UrbanConcept category. The teams were allowed to use both conventional fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and LPG (liquid petroleum gas) and alternative fuels such as solar, bioimass and hydrogen.