Not Your Average Spring Break - Student Teams From Across the Americas Prepare to Help the World Use Less Fuel
2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas welcomes 38 teams from the U.S., Canada and Mexico
HOUSTON, March 28 -- While many "spring breakers" spend their time enjoying some rest and relaxation with fellow students, 38 teams from across the United States, Canada and Mexico are hard at work putting the finishing touches on their high-mileage, fuel-saving prototype vehicles. After months of plotting, planning and pushing the limits, these students are down to the wire as they work to complete their vehicles for the 2008 Shell Eco-marathon(TM) Americas -- a global mileage challenge and forum for current and future leaders who are passionate about finding sustainable solutions to the world's energy challenge.
"We realize the future of transportation ultimately depends on alternative energy sources," said David Ulrich, student team leader of the Cal Poly team, who set the Shell Eco-marathon Americas record in 2007 with an astonishing 1,902.7 miles per gallon (809 kilometers per litre). "And as an engineering student, being given the opportunity to design and build fuel-efficient vehicles is an important part of gaining practical experience for the future."
Taking place April 10-12 at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., the challenge tests students to design and build eco-friendly vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel. From vehicle design to financing, student teams manage their projects from start to finish. The winning team receives a grand prize of $10,000 U.S. dollars for their school.
The 2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas roster contains 38 teams from 5 high schools and 24 universities from the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The entries include 28 vehicles powered by combustion engines, six by fuel cell/hydrogen technology, one by diesel fuel, one by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and two by solar power.
The complete 2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas roster is:
Combustion Engine Entrants:
School Location Team Name Vehicle Name
Barstow High School Barstow, Calif. The Aztecs Team II Grease Lighting
Barstow High School Barstow, Calif. Barstow High School The Az-Tech
California Polytechnic San Luis Cal Poly Black Widow
State University Obispo, Calif. Supermileage
California State Los Angeles, CSULA Supermileage Super Eagle II
University, Los Calif.
Angeles
Cedarville University Cedarville, Yellow Jackets Lightning III
Ohio
Cedarville University Cedarville, Yellow Jackets Slipstream II
Ohio
Centennial High School Corona County, Huskies The Blur
Calif.
Colorado School of Denver, Colo. Ramblin Wreck Peanut Butter
Mines
Grand Rapids Technical Grand Rapids, G-Rock Spirit of
School Minn. Columbia
Lamar University Beaumont, Texas Team Havoc Wicked 1
Lamar University Beaumont, Texas Team Full Of It Lamar Prototype
Vehicle
Louisiana State Baton Rouge, Tiger Racing Chitty Chitty
University La. Bang Bang
Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. LA Tech Bulldogs De Donderhond
University
Loyola Marymount Los Angeles, The Lion The Roar
University Calif.
Mater Dei High School Evansville, Mater Dei 5th Gen
Ind. Supermileage Team
Mater Dei High School Evansville, Mater Dei 6th Gen
Ind. Supermileage Team
Northern Arizona Flagstaff, Team SAE@NAU The Hot Pocket
University Ariz.
Northern Arizona Flagstaff, NAU Efficient Efficient
University Ariz. Vehicle Vehicle
Rose-Hulman Institute Terre Haute, Rose-Hulman RHEV 74
of Technology Ind. Efficient Vehicles
Universidad Nacional Mexico City, Escuderia Puma Puma Azteca
Autonoma de Mexico - Mexico Unam
Facultad de Ingenieria
Universite Laval Laval, Quebec, Alerion PSD 2.2
Canada Supermileage
University of British Vancouver, UBC Supermileage UBCST
Columbia British Team
Columbia
University of Berkeley, Cal SMV Papa Bear
California, Berkeley Calif.
University of Los Angeles, Supermileage The Enterprise
California, Los Calif.
Angeles
University of Santa Barbara, UCSB Gauchos Gaucho 1
California, Santa Calif.
Barbara
University of Boulder, Colo. Mile High Club F-CAT
Colorado, Boulder
University of Houston Houston, Texas UH Cougars Red Streak
University of Texas, El Paso, Texas Miner Dilemma Chimichanga
El Paso
Fuel Cell Entrants:
School Location Team Name Vehicle Name
Lamar University Beaumont, Texas FullThrottle 1602
Los Altos High School Hacienda LAAE A Infusion I
Heights, Calif.
Los Altos High School Hacienda LAAE B Infusion II
Heights, Calif.
Los Altos High School Hacienda LAAE C High Voltage
Heights, Calif.
Penn State University University Penn State HFV Bad to the Bond
Park, Pa.
University of Victoria Victoria, H2Drive UVic Fuel Cell
British Vehicle
Columbia
Diesel Entrant:
School Location Team Name Vehicle Name
College of the Eureka, Calif. Diesel Corsair Diesel Corsair
Redwoods
LPG Entrant:
School Location Team Name Vehicle Name
Schurr High School Montebello, Spartans Mach 1
Calif.
Solar Entrants:
School Location Team Name Vehicle Name
Centennial High School Corona County, Huskies The Flash
Calif.
Purdue University West Lafayette, Purdue Solar Pulsar
Ind. Racing
To help ensure the 2008 Shell Eco-marathon Americas is a successful event for all the student participants, Shell is pleased to welcome the 2008 event sponsors:
SKF USA Inc. -- As one of the leading global suppliers of products, solutions and services in the areas of rolling bearings, seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems, SKF is providing up to $1,000 in equipment and engineering support for the student teams (http://www.skfusa.com/).
Autodesk -- Autodesk, a world leader in design innovation technology, is recognized as a Shell Eco-marathon global sponsor. Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets (http://www.autodesk.com/).
Michelin -- Michelin, a sponsor of Shell Eco-marathon in Europe, is providing low-rolling resistance tires for use in the competition and offering them to the student teams at a discounted rate. Michelin is also engaging students to understand how tires effect fuel economy and how the same principles relate their project cars to vehicles in the real-world (http://www.michelinman.com/).
Pennzoil -- Pennzoil is providing one quart of Pennzoil Platinum (R) full synthetic motor oil for each student team, along with technical support. The active cleansing agents in Pennzoil Platinum(R) help remove built-up dirt and deposits 3X better than the leading conventional oil*. Pennzoil is the most preferred motor oil brand in America, and its line of quality products meets or exceeds industry specifications to offer exceptional engine protection. (http://www.pennzoil.com/).
With many successful years in Europe, the Shell Eco-marathon came back to the U.S. as the Shell Eco-marathon Americas in April 2007. The Eco-marathon concept started as the Shell Mileage Marathon in 1939 between employees of Shell at a research laboratory in Wood River, Illinois. Today, the Americas event extends to student teams from across North and South America.
In Europe, the 2008 Shell Eco-marathon project will take place May 22-24 at the Nogaro Circuit, France. The 2007 European event attracted teams from 20 countries, with the winning teams hailing from Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Norway.
For more information on the Shell Eco-marathon Americas, please visit http://www.shell.com/us/ecomarathon.
Shell Oil Company, including its consolidated companies and its share in equity companies, is one of America's leading oil and natural gas producers, natural gas marketers, gasoline marketers and petrochemical manufacturers. Shell, a leading oil and gas producer in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, is a recognized pioneer in oil and gas exploration and production technology. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Shell Group, a global group of energy and petrochemical companies, employing approximately 112,000 people and operating in more than 130 countries and territories.
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* Based on a severe sludging test using SAE 5W-30.
NOTE TO EDITORS: High-resolution photos and broadcast-quality video of the 2007 Shell Eco-marathon Americas is available for download at http://www.shell.com/us/media via the "Images and B-roll" link. For assistance, please contact the Shell Media Line at 713-241-4544.