Shell seeks energy solution at Eco-marathon events

Rev them up!

29 April 2009 00:00  [Source: ICB]

Shell challenges students to help solve energy and climate change issues on the racetrack

THE BRAINS of the future might be mostly focused these days on passing school exams, getting a date and twittering. But oil and petrochemical company Shell hopes that some will be inspired to help solve future energy crises in a sustainable and environment-friendly way by designing and creating high mileage, fuel-efficient vehicles at its Eco-marathon events.

Last month's third annual Shell Eco-marathon Americas in Fontana, California, US, saw more than 500 high school and college students from the US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and India competing to break the 2008 record of 2,843 miles/gal (1,208.6 kilometers/liter) set by the team from Mater Dei High School of Evansville, Indiana.

At the Auto Club Speedway race track in California, 44 teams participated in either [or both] the Prototype category, which centers on maximizing fuel efficiency through innovative design elements; or the Urban Concept category, which is aimed at meeting the needs of today's drivers with a more roadworthy fuel-efficient vehicle.

Teams for both categories were able to use any conventionally available energy source such as diesel, gasoline and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as well as alternative fuels such as hydrogen/fuel cell, biomass and solar.

Vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy in each category win the $5,000 (€3,767) grand prize.

"It is quite exciting to work with young people where they can take the skills they are learning in school and turn them into something practical that they can demonstrate here," said Graeme Sweeney, Shell vice president, Future Fuels and CO2, in an interview during the Eco-marathon event.

"Engineering, science and technology will absolutely be critical for delivering sustainable energy solutions in the 21st century. These young people are going to provide the innovation and the brains that will enable us to have sustainable mobility as well as look after the environment," he added.

Sweeney noted the growing shortage of labor in engineering, science and technology, and said it is the company's and the industry's job to make these fields exciting places to work in, especially in light of today's energy challenges.

Shell expects energy demand to surge, driven by developing nations, where the number of vehicles is expected to double by 2050.

"The sources of energy required to deliver that sustainable mobility will get stretched. We are going to need all the energy that we can get and we are going to have to do it in a way that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well," said Sweeney.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY RACE
While Shell continues its core business of exploring and producing oil and gas, Sweeney said it will also continue to develop cleaner fuel alternatives with a key focus on non-food based biofuels.

"Our strategy hasn't changed. We are committed to having a commercially attractive alternative energy business and over the next few years, the focus will indeed be on biofuels," added Sweeney.

Of the prototype entries at the Eco-marathon Americas, five vehicles were fueled by hydrogen, three by solar power, three by LPG, two by diesel and 28 were powered by combustion engines. The Urban Concept entries included two vehicles powered by combustion engines and one by solar power.

Purdue University won the Solar Powered Prototype category, which achieved the equivalent of 4,913mpg, while Penn State University won the Fuel Cell/Hydrogen Prototype category with 1,912mpg equivalent.

A team from Laval University in Quebec, Canada, won the grand prize with a vehicle that achieved 2,757.1mpg. Although the Purdue vehicle had higher mileage, it could not compete for the grand prize because the vehicle doesn't actually burn fuel, according to Shell officials.

Event officials determined the miles per gallon achieved by alternative energy-powered vehicles through a complex formula.

For two decades, the Shell Eco-marathon has been held mostly in France and the UK. Last year's European prototype vehicle reached a record 7,957mpg, while a hydrogen-powered vehicle achieved 1,994.6mpg in the Urban Concept category.

Mater Dei High School won the Americas Urban Concept category this year, achieving a mileage of 433.3mpg with its combustion engine-powered vehicle.

Shell plans to bring the Eco-marathon to Asia next year, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the Sepang International Circuit race track in July 2010. Students from China, India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to compete.

Read Doris de Guzman's Green Chemicals blog

By: Doris de Guzman
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