Shell Eco-marathon

Over 100 student teams from all over Asia, Middle East and Africa gather in the Philippines in March for a unique four-day event to showcase, test and drive their self-built fuel-efficient vehicles on the streets of Manila. Shell Eco-marathon is a public event celebrating ideas and innovation, the best up-and-coming engineers, designers and inventors, and cutting-edge thinking about energy and mobility.

Shell Eco-marathon Asia is a visible demonstration of Shell’s commitment to help the world meet its growing energy needs in a responsible way by working together with students, partners and other stakeholders. Shell Eco-marathon challenges student teams from around the world to design, build and test ultra-energy-efficient vehicles. The engines are powered by various fuels, hydrogen cells or lithium batteries. The winners are the teams that go the furthest using the least amount of energy.

Shell Qatar at Eco-Marathon

In 1939, several researchers in a Shell laboratory in the United States began a friendly competition to see who could get the most miles per gallon from their vehicles. The contest, dubbed Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM) is now one of the world’s most challenging student innovation competitions held annually in Europe, America, Asia and, starting in 2016, in Qatar.

The Eco-Marathon aligns perfectly with the Qatar National Vision 2030, touching the Human, Social and Environmental pillars through its focus on education, teamwork, environment and scientific innovation. The competition brings together current and future leaders and people who are passionate about energy issues and encourages them to think about sustainable solutions to the world’s energy challenge.

At Shell Eco-marathon, student teams are challenged to design, build and test energy efficient vehicles. The winner is the team that drives the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. In a truly outstanding achievement, the most fuel-efficient car ever designed by a Shell Eco-marathon student team travelled 4,896km - the equivalent of driving from Doha to Moscow - on a single litre of fuel.

Two student teams from Qatar University and one from Texas A&M University at Qatar competed against 100 teams across Asia at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia that was held in Manila in February 2014.

Both universities compete in Shell Eco-marathon annually, having become the first participants from the Middle East back in 2011. In 2012, the Qatar University team achieved second place in its category, running on Shell Gas to Liquids, a remarkable achievement and fitting for a team from Qatar, the Gas to Liquids capital of the world.