Shell Eco-Marathon marks 10th edition, returns to Malaysia

THIS year’s Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM) Asia will be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, where it debuted in 2010.

Shell announced on Feb. 11 that the event, part of its global “Make the Future Live program,” will be held on April 29 to May 2, and will be participated in by more than 100 teams from Asia and the Middle East. Aboard selfbuilt energy-efficient cars, competitors — composed of college students — will aim to travel the farthest using the least amount of energy.

Shell said that in the 2018 SEM Singapore edition, the winning team was able to cover 2,341 kilometers on just one liter of fuel.

In a statement, Shell Malaysia chairman Iain Lo called SEM an “inspiring event that supports Shell’s vision of sustainable mobility.”

Teams will also have the opportunity to qualify for the SEM Drivers’ World Championship, according to Shell. Introduced in 2016, the activity challenges the best Urban Concept teams to combine the proven energy efficiency of their car with the speed and skill of their driver, in a race to see who can cross the finish line first while using the least amount of fuel. Teams that qualify will go to London to compete in the finals.

The Philippines will again participate in SEM Asia, sending 16 cars from 14 universities — the second-biggest contingent after Indonesia’s 29 teams, Shell noted. The teams come from Adamson University, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Dasmariñas, De La Salle University-Manila, Mapua University’s Institute of Technology, National University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Manila, University of Mindanao, University Of Perpetual Help System-Dalta, University of San Carlos, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the Philippines – Diliman.