S'pore teams to compete in Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2010

Shell today invited students in Singapore, as well as others in the region, to build the most fuel-efficient cars to compete at the inaugural Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) Asia 2010.

The competition challenges student teams to design and build energy-efficient vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel.

To-date, at least seven teams from various Singapore educational institutions have expressed interest to take part in SEM Asia 2010. A few have already started designing their cars ahead of next year's race.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) was the first institution in Asia to send a team to SEM Europe in 2007.

This year, it was joined by other teams in Singapore from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) at the 25th SEM Europe.

The NUS team made headlines with their hydrogen fuel cell-powered car. It came in an impressive fifth out of 57 teams in the Urban Concept category with just one shot at the final run.

Zhang Wei Sheng, a third-year engineering student from NUS, said his team is looking forward to take part in the SEM again next year in Kuala Lumpur.

The event will be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from July 9-10, 2010.

Registration for SEM Asia 2010 will open on July 16 this year and 10 qualified 'early birds' will receive a further subsidy if they register and make it to the race next year.

Mavis Kuek, General Manager for External Affairs & Communications, Shell Companies in Singapore, said, "Holding the Shell Eco-marathon in Asia will enable more students in the region to showcase their technology, creativity and innovation by challenging them to design and build vehicles that will go the farthest using the least amount of energy."

Open to high schools, colleges, universities and technical institutes, SEM challenges student teams to put their innovations to the test in two vehicle categories: Prototype - futuristic, streamlined vehicles focused on maximising fuel efficiency through innovative design elements; and Urban Concept - focused on more roadworthy fuel-efficient vehicles.

For both categories, teams can use any of the following fuels to power their vehicles: Conventional fuels such as diesel, gasoline and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or alternative fuels such as fuel cells/hydrogen, bio-fuel, solar and gas-to-liquid.