Chinese university teams see impressive results at Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2011
Jul 12, 2011
Three Chinese university teams have made new break-though with their prototype cars in Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2011 held at the Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7th - 9th July, respectively finishing the third in the internal combustion category and the second in the plug-in electrical mobility category among 93 teams from the region.
The prototype car of Beijing Institute of Technology travelled 1,231 kilometres on a litre of petrol, significantly exceeding last year’s best result by Chinese teams of 940 kilometres, while the car from Tongji University recorded 883 kilometres in the same category; the prototype electric car using plug-in battery also from Tongji University achieved 371 kilometres per kWh.
Thai team Luk Jao Mae Khlong Prapa emerged winner under the Prototype Category and set a new record of 2,213 kilometers on a litre of ethanol, enough to drive from Kuala Lumpur to Chang Mai in northern Thailand. In the Urban Concept Category, Indonesian Team Mesin ITS4’s internal combustion entry, running on FAME (fatty acid methyl ester), garnered the best efficiency performance with a distance of 150 kilometres/litre.
Following its debut event last year, Shell Eco-marathon Asia has attracted more participants, with 93 teams from 12 countries and regions, including new entrants Brunei Darussalam, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam.
Shell hosted the 27th edition of the Shell Eco-marathon in Europe this year, and in 2007 it was brought to Americas with much success. Bringing the competition to Asia helps make this programme a true global initiative for Shell. The annual competition challenges students to design, build and drive a vehicle that can travel the furthest distance on the least amount of fuel.
Student teams participated 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 can enter vehicles using internal combustion engines running on fuels such as conventional diesel and gasoline (petrol) or biofuels, as well as alternative and “e-mobility” energy sources such as solar, hydrogen and plug-in electricity.
Shell Eco-marathon offers a platform for the youth to develop new approaches to smarter mobility, giving them a sense of real life challenges on project management. To complement the On-Track Awards, students were also recognized on the off-track aspects of Safety, Technical Innovation, Communications and?Design.