Shell Eco-marathon: fuel efficiency at its finest

Imagine a vehicle that could cover 1,000 kilometers while burning only 1.238 liters of fuel. Impossible, you say? Well, guess again: students from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo (California) did just that. Their incredible performance made them winners of the first Shell Eco-marathon Americas, a competition in which students prepare their eco-friendly vehicles to drive the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel, whether it's gasoline, diesel or alternative energies such as liquefied petrol, biofuel, hydrogen or solar power.


The Shell Eco-marathon is part of a global effort to change the way the world sees and uses energy. Shell is trying to stimulate innovation and environmental awareness among the future leaders and engineers of tomorrow while promoting energy efficiency in today's world.

Student teams, usually made up of 8 members, manage their projects from start to finish. From vehicle design to financing, they gain practical experience while applying skills in science, technology, mathematics, business and design. The winning team will receive a grand prize of $10,000. To date, nearly 50 schools have signed up.