With two perennial favourites battling along Detroit’s riverfront and downtown streets to see which custom-built, ultra-energy-efficient vehicle would travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy, the Université Laval team from Quebec regained the title from its Canadian rival, the University of Toronto. The Laval team recorded 2,585 miles per gallon with its gasoline-fueled prototype, but that mark fell short of its record 3,587 mpg set in 2013. The University of Toronto team, whose vehicle finished with a best run of 2,364 mpg, had hoped to surpass its chief competitor's mark on its final attempt, but its vehicle failed to start.
From all across the Americas
More than 1,000 students from a record 124 teams representing seven countries, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States, competed over three days with two classes of vehicles. The Prototype class invites students to enter futuristic, streamlined vehicles and the UrbanConcept class focuses on "roadworthy" fuel-efficient vehicles aimed at meeting the real-life needs of drivers.
Entries are divided by energy type: Internal combustion engine fuels: gasoline, diesel, liquid fuel made from natural gas and ethanol. Electric mobility: hydrogen fuel cells and battery electric.
The event began 31 years ago in Europe and in addition to the Americas competition, Shell Eco-marathon is held annually in Europe and Asia. The unique competition challenges students around the world to design, build and drive the most energy-efficient cars.
Look out for London
In fact, UrbanConcept teams from across the Americas, Asia and Europe will compete at the first Shell Eco-marathon Drivers' World Championship, taking place on July 3, 2016 at the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. The winning team will earn an invite to spend one week with Scuderia Ferrari at its facility in Maranello, Italy, where team members will receive personal coaching and advice from its engineers on how they can improve their car for the 2017 Shell Eco-marathon.
Teams headed to London with their vehicles include Mater Dei High School,Evansville, Ind.; Alden-Conger High School, Alden, Minn.; Saint Thomas Academy,Mendota Heights, Minn.; and Newburgh Free Academy, Newburgh, New York. Additional teams as guest spectators are the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; and the University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill.
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