Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and the Middle East regional competition for 2024 concluded last week on the picturesque island of Lombok in Indonesia. Among the standout participants were four university teams from Qatar, who displayed their commitment to energy efficiency on the world-class Mandalika International Circuit. 

Shell Eco-marathon is a global competition that challenges student teams to design, build, and drive the most energy-efficient vehicles. The event aims to inspire young people to become leading scientists and engineers of future energy solutions.

Participants compete in two main categories: Prototype and Urban Concept. The Prototype class focuses on ultra-efficient, lightweight designs, typically with three wheels and designed to reduce resistance and maximise efficiency. The Urban Concept class focuses on energy efficiency in the form of a conventional four-wheeled vehicle design, closer to passenger cars in appearance, designed to road-worthy specifications.

Participants can then choose from one of three energy categories: battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and internal combustion engine (gasoline, ethanol, and/or diesel).

The event in Indonesia brought together 78 student teams from countries across the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East region, including Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Vietnam. 

Strong representation from Qatar

The competition was fierce, but the teams from Qatar showed exceptional skill and ingenuity, making their universities proud.

The four teams from Qatar participated in various categories, each bringing their unique designs and innovative solutions to the competition. Their vehicles were a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students, who spent months preparing for this event:

Gernas EV from Qatar University

The electric vehicle team from Qatar University – Gernas EV – competed in the Prototype category. Gernas EV have been competing for a number of years in Shell Eco-marathon, showcasing their strong innovative skills.

“Khaled Barakah, Electrical Engineering student at Qatar University, shared: “It’s an amazing feeling to participate in the event. It will be a great experience that students from Asia-Pacific and the Middle East will compete in Qatar next year.”

Gernas ICE from Qatar University

Qatar University’s newest team – Gernas ICE – competed with a gasoline-powered vehicle in the Urban Concept class. Abdulla Alsayed, Mechanical Engineering student at Qatar University, said: “I am very proud of my university for participating in Shell Eco-marathon. This is an achievement for the future of vehicles and fuel efficiency.”

Wolves Racing from University of Doha for Science and Technology

UDST’s first ever team – the Wolves Racing – competed with a battery electric car in the Urban Concept category. The team made an impressive first appearance, passing their technical inspection without major issues. Ahmed Yousef, Electrical Engineering student at UDST, said: “Our team worked so hard. This was an extreme project for us, but we are glad we took it on, and we enjoyed every minute of it.”

Desert Aggies from Texas A&M University at Qatar

The Desert Aggies competed in the Urban Concept category with a gasoline-powered vehicle. The Desert Aggies have been competing in Shell Eco-marathon since 2012 and plan to continue to participate, improving their designs year after year. Mohaned Ahmed, who recently graduated from Texas A&M University at Qatar with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, said: “The experience of learning under the umbrella of innovation in a competition like this is rewarding in and of itself regardless of the outcome.”

983 kilometres on one litre of fuel

Shell Eco-marathon is not a competition of speed but of energy efficiency. The aim of each team is to travel the furthest distance possible using the least amount of energy.

At this year’s regional competition, Bengawan Team UNS from Sebelas Maret University from Indonesia took the honour with an impressive result of 983.3 kilometres on one litre of fuel. The team utilised lightweight materials and advanced aerodynamics to achieve remarkable fuel efficiency, earning them the top spot in the competition.

The competition also recognises the winners from each category and energy class, and has a range of Off-track Awards, such as Technical Innovation Award and Carbon Footprint Reduction Award.

Participating in the competition is quite challenging. Students take months to design, build and test their vehicles before being selected to the competition. When selected, teams must organise logistics, travel and accommodation to ensure themselves and their vehicles arrive in time to compete. At the circuit, they must pass rigorous health and safety and technical inspections before making it to the track. All-in-all, the competition test not only their technical skills but also soft skills such as time management, communication and stakeholder management.

Coming to Qatar under the patronage of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa

Earlier in 2024, Shell announced that Shell Eco-marathon will come to Qatar – the first time ever in the Middle East – in February 2025 and is hosted under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. It will also be the 40-year anniversary of the competition.

The event will be held at Lusail International Circuit, providing a world-class venue for the next generation of engineers and giving students in the Middle East region an easier opportunity to participate.

Shell Eco-marathon in Indonesia concluded with an awards ceremony that not only celebrated the achievements of all participating teams but also acknowledged the transfer of the competition from Indonesia to Qatar with a symbolic passing of the flag ceremony.

Sandeep Singla – General Manager Commercial at Qatar Shell – who attended the competition as a volunteer and received the Shell Eco-marathon flag during the closing ceremony, said, “The Shell team in Qatar are immensely proud and excited to see Shell Eco-marathon come to the Middle East for the very first time and be hosted in Doha, Qatar. The country’s infrastructure, accessibility and exceptional hospitality make Qatar a perfect location to host the next regional championship. It will be the event’s 40-year anniversary and is set to be the best-ever Shell Eco-marathon.”

Bringing the event to Qatar, highlights the country’s commitment to sustainable development, innovation and education. Together with Qatar’s robust education eco-system, the students’ participation in the competition serves as an inspiration for future generations of engineers and innovators in Qatar.

The experience gained from taking part in Shell Eco-marathon will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the students, providing them with valuable insights and skills that will benefit their future careers. The competition also fosters a spirit of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among the teams, promoting a global exchange of ideas.

As the event concluded, the participants returned home with a sense of accomplishment and a renewed dedication to advancing future energy solutions. Shell Eco-marathon continues to be a platform for young engineers to push the boundaries of what is possible.

For more information about Shell Eco-marathon, please visit the official website at www.shellecomarathon.com.