Shell Will Host 10th Annual Eco-Marathon in 2016

HOUSTON — The Shell Eco-marathon Americas will return to Motor City for its tenth year on April 22-24, 2016. Registration is open now through Nov. 16 to interested educators, students and teams of high school and university levels from across the Americas to showcase their passion for technological innovation and energy efficiency on the streets of downtown Detroit.

The challenge for 2016 is to design and build a vehicle that goes the farthest on the least amount of energy. At the Eco-marathon, student teams will aim to beat the current Americas record of 3,587 miles per gallon equivalent.

As of now, more than 20 teams are pre-registered from schools in Michigan, California, Indiana, Missouri, Texas, Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela for the 2016 Shell Eco-marathon Americas.

Over the past nine years, the event has grown from 19 teams in 2007 in Fontana, Calif., to 113 teams this past April in Detroit, of which six of the original 19 teams participated.

In 2007, teams only had a choice of three energy sources to power their vehicles. Today, they may choose from seven energy sources, with traditional options like gasoline and diesel, and alternatives like hydrogen, electricity, ethanol, gas-to-liquid (GTL) and compressed natural gas (CNG).

Aside from being an academic engineering competition as well as an opportunity to learn about energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and innovation, Shell said in a recent news release that the Shell Eco-marathon Americas inspires students, fosters their creativity and encourages technical innovation to address the energy challenges the world faces today and in the future.

According to Houston-based Shell, as technology constantly evolves, the foundational STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) skills students learn and apply by being part of the Shell Eco-marathon — from designing their vehicle’s initial concept and building their innovative designs, to aiming to drive the farthest with the least energy to win — prepares students for the world beyond their desks.

The festival-like weekend in Detroit will also feature a free, family-friendly interactive experience inside Cobo Center for the general public. More information is available at www.shellecomarathon.us.