Shell Eco-marathon is one of the world’s leading energy efficiency competition programmes. Students are challenged to design, build and test energy-efficient cars, pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible. Students take their designs to the track in the Mileage Challenge to see which vehicle can compete to go the farthest on the least amount of fuel. The Drivers’ World Championship sees winners from the Mileage Challenge marry the efficiency of their vehicles with the speed and skills of their driver to find the fastest energy-efficient driver.

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The competition dates back to 1939 when Shell Oil Company employees in the USA made a friendly wager over who could travel furthest on the same amount of fuel. Since then it has expanded to two more continents, includes many energy types and sparks passionate debate around the future of energy and mobility.

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The competition is split into two classes or categories. The Prototype class focuses on maximum efficiency, while passenger comfort takes a back seat. The UrbanConcept class encourages more practical designs. Cars are also divided by energy type:

• Internal combustion engine fuels include petrol, diesel, liquid fuel made from natural gas and ethanol.

• In the electric mobility category, vehicles are powered by hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-based batteries.