First time in Asia: Malaysia will host the inaugural Shell Eco-marathon Asia to be held at the Sepang International Circuit from 8 -10 July 2010.
Talented students from across Asia are gearing up for the upcoming Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) Asia 2010, a fuel-efficiency challenge. At the close of registration recently, 109 student teams from universities and polytechnics in the region have signed up for the inaugural challenge, to be held at the Sepang International Circuit from 8 -10 July 2010.
SEM Asia 2010 has attracted strong response from China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
From Malaysia, 26 teams have registered for the challenge. They include entries from the University of Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Auto Terminal Training (TEKAT - The Institute of Automotive Technology), The University of Nottingham, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Curtin University Of Technology (Sarawak Campus).
Dato’ Saw Choo Boon, Shell Malaysia Chairman said: “We are pleased with the strong response from the region as it demonstrates their keen interest to develop more energy efficient solutions and address climate change.”
SEM is about pushing the limits of engineering design and harnessing the ingenuity of the participants to design a vehicle that can go the furthest distance on the least amount of fuel.
Pushing the limits of engineering design: The Shell Eco-marathon encourages students to be innovative in finding practical solutions towards sustainable mobility. Shown here is a Prototype car built by Shell which was used during the Shell Eco-marathon Asia curtain raiser in July 2009.
The event is also a celebration of engineering innovation and excellence among young minds as it attempts to raise the clarion call for sustainable mobility in a world that is increasingly under stress from CO2 emissions from energy use. Already, transport accounts for as much as a quarter of global energy use and a corresponding amount of C02 emissions.
The strong entry list for SEM Asia 2010 reflects the passion and interest of Asian youths in finding practical solutions towards sustainable mobility and addressing various challenges with regard to energy use and the corresponding environmental impact.
“The Shell Eco-marathon engages enterprising young inventors and encourages the progress in innovation for more fuel-efficient solutions for the future. Getting vehicles that can travel the furthest distance using the least amount of fuel is something which almost every motorist aspires for,” said Dato’ Saw.
The 2010 challenge will present vehicles powered by gasoline, gas to liquids or GTL, hydrogen, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol and solar energy.
In terms of vehicle types, about 70% of the entrants for SEM Asia 2010 have selected to build prototype vehicles which are more futuristic while more than 20% have entered their vehicle in the urban concept category which focuses on the more conventional four-wheel roadworthy criteria.
Teams have begun submitting their technical drawings which will be assessed by Shell fuels specialists to ensure each vehicle is technically sound and complies with the 2010 rules and regulations. As long as teams adhere to safety rules and technical guidelines, the design of their vehicles is limited only by their imagination.
Participating teams have about seven months from now before they rev up their engines for the challenge. Some teams are already working round the clock to ensure that they would have a head start and make an impact at the prestigious fuel-efficiency challenge next year, including finding sponsors and ordering parts to build their vehicles.
Summary of entries by country:
Eco cars at the SEM curtain raiser: Mr. Tan Chong Meng (with flag), Shell's Executive Vice President of Global Business to Business (B2B) and Dato' Saw Choo Boon, Chairman, Shell Malaysia starting off the vehicles from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and ITE (Institute of Technical Education) College West in Singapore at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia curtain raiser in July 2009.
ENQUIRIES:
For further editorial information, please contact Shell Malaysia Media Relations: Cindy Lopez at tel: 603 2091 3719, email: cindy.lopez@shell.comor Stephanie Khoo at tel: 603 2091 2115, email: stephanie.khoo@shell.com. For more information on Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2010, visithttp://www.shell.com/home/content/ecomarathon/asia/
