Happenings

Shell's Eco-Marathon Asia Coming To The Lion City

BY Azfar Hashim

Student-designed cars will compete at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia, to be held in Singapore for the first time, as part of 'Make the Future Singapore'

Come 2017, Singapore will play host to the inaugural Asian edition of Shell’s 'Make the Future' festival, featuring Shell Eco-marathon Asia. This four-day, free-of-charge public festival will take place at the Changi Exhibition Centre from March 16th to 19th  2017. It will feature bright energy ideas and innovations that address the global energy challenge – how to generate more energy, while producing less CO2.

At Make the Future Singapore, visitors will be invited to experience ideas, contribute their own and join the journey to an energy-efficient, low-carbon future. Through virtual reality and hands-on experiential zones, visitors will be able to explore what is happening now and what the future of energy might look like, from renewable energy to natural gas and low-carbon technologies. Apart from that, they can also learn about bright ideas from around Asia besides participating in interactive zones about the future of energy, mobility and innovation by Shell and other partners.

This will also be the first time the Shell Eco-Marathon Asia will move to Singapore in 2017, after running successfully in Malaysia (2010 to 2013) and Philippines (2014 to 2016). Shell Eco-marathon, a highlight of Make the Future festivals, is a unique competition for students who are passionate about developing innovative mobility solutions and challenges them to design, build, drive and compete to create the world’s most energy efficient vehicles.

Teams of students can build one of two types of cars: Prototype (futuristic and highly aerodynamic vehicles) or UrbanConcept (highly economical and innovative vehicles that resemble today’s cars). They must pass a detailed technical inspection before they are allowed onto the track to see how far they can go - on the least amount of fuel. Awards are given to the most energy efficient vehicles within the various categories.

Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2017 in Singapore will also see the introduction of the inaugural Regional Drivers’ Championship, an exciting race format in which the best Asian teams will vie for their place in the Drivers’ World Championship in London in 2017, competing in an exciting head-to-head race to see who is the most energy-efficient driver.

Singapore has been selected as the inaugural Asian location for Make the Future due to its strategic location in Asia and its great infrastructure for supporting exhibitions and conventions. “With Shell Eco-marathon Asia coming to Singapore and being a part of the larger Make the Future festival, we hope to inspire more young and bright talents to contribute towards creating cutting-edge technology in the areas of energy and mobility. Through Shell Eco-marathon Asia, we want to help the world meet its growing energy needs in a responsible way by working together with students, partners and other stakeholders”, said Norman Koch, General Manager, Shell Eco-marathon.