Thrilling Student Victories at This Year’s Shell Eco-marathon Americas Event

The Alerion Supermileage team poses with its winning Prototype vehicle, sporting a fuel efficiency of 2,757.1 miles per gallon (1,172.2 kilometers per liter). The team is from Laval University, Quebec, Canada. Photo courtesy of Shell Oil Co.HOUSTON- Months of preparations culminated with triumphs for many innovative student teams at this year’s Shell Eco-marathon Americas event at the Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.

“We knew coming into the challenge this year that we would have a lot to go up against,” said David Vallee of Laval University, Quebec, Canada, whose team won the grand prize in the event’s Prototype category. With mileage of 2,757.1 miles per gallon (1,172.2 kilometers per liter) the university’s Alerion Supermileage team won a $5,000 grand prize for their school. The team named their vehicle NTF 3.0.

The Prototype category sets minimal design restrictions, allowing teams maximum technical creativity. The goal in this category is to reduce drag and maximize efficiency, which the Alerion team definitely did.

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Schools Gearing Up to Show Their Drive at the Annual Shell Eco-marathon Americas Event

The Mater Dei High School team proudly posing for a picture after winning the Prototype Award at last year’s Shell Eco-marathon Americas event. The team had the distinction of setting the marathon’s record with a fuel efficiency of 2,843 miles per gallon, equivalent to 1,208.6 kilometers per liter. Photo courtesy of Shell Oil Co.

HOUSTON - High schools and universities across the Eastern Hemisphere are gearing up for the third annual Shell Eco-marathon Americas event this Friday at the Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, Calif.

“The Eco-marathon challenges teams to design, build, and drive the farthest using the least amount of energy,” said Robin Lebovitz, media relations coordinator for Shell Oil Co.

Student teams manage their projects from start to finish, including vehicle design, financing, and transportation to the event. This year, 52 teams from nine high schools and 32 universities will be competing in two categories- the Prototype and the premiering Urban Concept.

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