Canadian teams set to take back Shell Eco-Marathon title

Seven Canadian university teams are lining up to beat new fuel efficiency records at the Shell Eco-Marathon 2013 in Houston. This annual event challenges students to compete with other schools in their energy-efficient vehicles to see who can travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy.

The Canadian teams, including a team from three-time winning school Université Laval, are going head-to-head with more than 140 student teams from across North and South America. Last year’s winning team from Evansville, Indiana, achieved nearly 900 kilometres per litre and these Canadian students are hoping to beat that and other records.

“We’ve been working on a new design for 12 months,” said Matthew Sponiar, team leader and final-year University of Alberta student. “We are not only looking at making our car zero emission through the use of a hydrogen fuel cell, but we’re also using the newest in sustainable materials such as bio-fiber, bio-resins, and recycled carbon fiber.”

In addition to teams from Université Laval and University of Alberta, this year’s Canadian contingent includes two teams from University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, Dalhousie University and the University of Moncton.

Held globally in the Americas, Europe and Asia, Shell Eco-Marathon is both a challenge and an educational platform that fosters the development of leading technology for greater energy efficiency and transportation performance.
www.shell.ca