2,757 MPG Achieved at 2009 Shell Eco-Marathon Americas

19 April, 2009 02:54:00

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Distance, not speed, was the goal this weekend on the track at the 2009 Shell Eco-marathon Americas, a challenge for students to design, build and test fuel-efficient vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel.

This year, more than 500 students from North and South America were on hand to stretch the boundaries of fuel efficiency.

The student team from Laval University, with an astonishing 2,757.1 miles per gallon, equivalent to 1,172.2 kilometers per liter, won the grand prize in the "Prototype" category. And in the "UrbanConcept" category - new to the Americas event this year - the team from Mater Dei High School took the grand prize by achieving 433.3 mpg, equivalent to 184.2 km/l.

With 44 participating teams at track competition was steep. This year's challenge brought together a number of returning teams determined to beat the 2,843 mpg (1,208 km/l) record set by Mater Dei High School (Evansville, Ind.) in 2008, combined with a number of new teams adding fresh innovation and vehicle designs to the competition.

Laval University prepares for their winning run at the 2009 Shell Eco-marathon
Americas challenge, earning 2,757.1 mpg. The student competition at the
Auto Club Speedway in Southern California included 44 teams and 500 students
from across North and South America.

This year, student teams were invited to participate in either the Prototype or UrbanConcept categories. For the Prototype category, teams entered futuristic prototypes - streamlined vehicles focused on maximizing fuel efficiency through innovative design elements, such as drag reduction. For the UrbanConcept category, teams entered more "roadworthy" fuel-efficient vehicles. Aimed at meeting the real-life needs of drivers, these vehicles are closer in appearance to the cars seen on roads today. For both categories, teams could use any conventionally available energy source - including fuels such as diesel, gasoline and liquid petroleum gas (LPG), as well as alternative fuels such as hydrogen, biomass and solar.

The 2009 Shell Eco-marathon Americas roster contained 44 teams from six high schools and 29 universities from North and South America, including Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States. Additionally, a guest team from India joined the roster with their Prototype vehicle.

The Prototype entries included 28 vehicles powered by combustion engines, five by fuel cell/hydrogen technology, three by LPG, three by solar power, and two by diesel fuel. The UrbanConcept entries included two vehicles powered by combustion engines and one by solar power.

This could be the fuel tank of the future
according to students competing at the
2009 Shell Eco-marathon Americas
challenge held at the Auto Club Speedway
in Southern California on April 15-18, 2009.
Many of the more than 500 students that
competed from across North and South America
used a similar size fuel tank that holds 250 mL.

CATEGORY WINNERS FOR THE 2009 SHELL ECO-MARATHON AMERICAS INCLUDE:

PROTOTYPE

Grand Prize - Combustion Engine
With mileage of 2,757.1 mpg (1,172.2 kilometers per liter) the Alerion Supermileage team from Laval University in Quebec, Canada won a US$5,000 grand prize with their vehicle, NTF 3.0.

Fuel Cell/Hydrogen
The Penn State University team from University Park, Pa. achieved 1,912.9 mpg (813.2 km/l) in its Blood, Sweat & Gears vehicle.

Solar Power
The Purdue Solar Racing team from Purdue University took first place with its solar vehicle, Pulsar, which achieved 4,913 mpg (2,088.7 km/l).

URBAN CONCEPT

Grand Prize - Combustion Engine
With mileage of 433.3 mpg (184.2 kilometers per liter) the Mater Dei Supermileage Team from Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Ind. won a US$5,000 grand prize with their vehicle, Street Buggy.

Eco-Design Award
A special "Eco-Design Award" was presented to the UCLA team for their Prototype design. Their special design not only contributed to the fuel efficiency of their vehicle, but incorporated recycled and eco-friendly materials into the vehicle and production process.

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