Tribune News Network
Doha
Shell Ecto-marathon Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regional competition for 2024 concluded last week on the picturesque island of Lombok in Indonesia. Among the standout participants were four university teams from Qatar, who displayed their commitment to energy efficiency on the world-class Mandalika International Circuit.
Shell Eco-marathon is a global competition that challenges student teams to design, build and drive the most energy-efficient vehicles. The event aims to inspire young people to become leading scientists and engineers of future energy solutions.
Participants compete in two main categories: Prototype and Urban Concept. The Prototype class focuses on ultra-efficient, lightweight designs, typically with three wheels and designed to reduce resistance and maximise efficiency. The Urban Concept class focuses on energy efficiency in the form of a conventional four-wheeled vehicle design, closer to passenger cars in appearance, designed to road-worthy specifications. Participants can then choose from one of three energy categories: battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and internal combustion engine (gasoline, ethanol, and/or diesel).
The event in Indonesia brought together 78 student teams from countries across the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East region, including Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The competition was fierce, but the teams from Qatar showed exceptional skill and ingenuity, making their universities proud.
The four teams from Qatar participated in various categories, each bringing their unique designs and innovative solutions to the competition. They were: Desert Aggies from Texas A&M University at Qatar; Gernas EV from Qatar University; Gernas ICE from Qatar University; and Wolves Racing from University of Doha for Science and Technology.
Shell Eco-marathon is not a competition of speed but of energy efficiency. The aim of each team is to travel the furthest distance possible using the least amount of energy.
At this year’s regional competition, Bengawan Team UNS from Sebelas Maret University from Indonesia took the honour with an impressive result of 983.3 kilometres on one litre of fuel. The team utilised lightweight materials and advanced aerodynamics to achieve remarkable fuel efficiency, earning them the top spot in the competition.
The competition also recognises the winners from each category and energy class, and has a range of Off-track Awards, such as Technical Innovation Award and Carbon Footprint Reduction Award.
Earlier in 2024, Shell announced that Shell Eco-marathon will come to Qatar – the first time ever in the Middle East – in February 2025 and will be hosted under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. It will also be the 40-year anniversary of the competition.
The event will be held at Lusail International Circuit, providing a world-class venue for the next generation of engineers and giving students in the Middle East region an easier opportunity to participate.
Shell Eco-marathon in Indonesia concluded with an awards ceremony that not only celebrated the achievements of all participating teams but also acknowledged the transfer of the competition from Indonesia to Qatar with a symbolic passing of the flag ceremony.
Sandeep Singla, general manager commercial at Qatar Shell, who attended the competition as a volunteer and received the Shell Eco-marathon flag during the closing ceremony, said, "The Shell team in Qatar are immensely proud and excited to see Shell Eco-marathon come to the Middle East for the very first time and be hosted in Doha, Qatar. The country’s infrastructure, accessibility and exceptional hospitality make Qatar a perfect location to host the next regional championship. It will be the event’s 40-year anniversary and is set to be the best-ever Shell Eco-marathon.”