Phl bags 3 awards at Shell Eco-Marathon Asia

MANILA, Philippines - Amid an extremely competitive field of more than 120 teams from Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, representatives from the De La Salle University (DLSU) and the University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP-Diliman) achieved top honors in their respective categories in the recently concluded Shell Eco-Marathon (SEM) Asia. The Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) also won a special off-track award

Staged anew at the Luneta Park, the SEM is a “student innovation competition that challenges students from universities across the world to design, build, and race the most energy-efficient cars,” according to Shell. With editions in Asia, America, and Europe, the festival “celebrates innovative thinking, best up-and-coming engineers, designers, and inventors, and cutting-edge thinking about energy and mobility.”

In an exclusive interview with STAR Motoring, SEM-Asia general manager Lyndon Lumain triumphantly described the recent staging as a “success.” The visitor count of over 46,000 in four days surpassed the previous edition’s 33,000. In terms of local participation, the Philippines fielded 27 teams from 14 schools—almost double last year’s 14 teams from nine schools—joining teams from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietman.

Lumain revealed that there would have been two more countries (South Korea and South Africa) had their teams finished the vehicles on time.

The SEM actually dates back to 1939, as a “friendly wager” among scientists at a Shell research laboratory who wanted to see who could get the most miles per gallon from their vehicle. The winner of that historic wager achieved 21 kilometers per liter (km/l).

That figure seems laughable now. The winning team in the Prototype Category (Shell FuelSave Gasoline), ATE.1 from Thailand’s Kong Thabbok Upatham Changkol Kho So Tho Bo School, squeezed out an incredible rate of 1,490.2 km/l in their best attempt. The Alternative Fuel winner, Sakonnakhon Technical College (also from Thailand), boasted an even higher figure of 1,572 km/l on ethanol.

In the Urban Concept Category (Shell FuelSave Gasoline), DLSU’s Eco Car Team-ICE trumped all comers with a figure of 126.6 km/l – way ahead of second-placer Don Muang Technical College (Thailand), which registered 76.9 km/l. Also in the Urban Concept Category (Battery Electric), UP-Diliman’s Team UP showed the way with 40.5 kilometers per kilowatt-hour.

Meanwhile, Symmetry V3.0 of Team TIP’s Mileage Proto received the Shell Helix Tribology award for “diligently (thinking) about quantifying the effect of lubricants on friction, and used lubricants with varying viscosity to minimize fuel consumption. By testing different oils available in the market, they were able to understand its effects on fuel economy, and took advantage of the benefits of low-viscosity synthetic oils.”

The SEM itself, continued the Shell official, is a collaboration among the academic, government, and private sectors. As students (usually mechanical engineering and electronics and communication engineering majors) apply themselves to the consuming concern of delivering more bang for the fuel buck, they also are taught valuable lessons in marketing, presentation skills, and, of course, teamwork.

Learning institutions have also begun to see the SEM as a true showcase of talent and the potency of their programs. Lumain revealed that the participation of the students is now being credited as thesis projects. University presidents are also showing up at the SEM itself to cheer their wards on.

To the cynical, it may seem weird that a fuels and lubricants company such as Shell would actually devote time, effort—not to mention significant resources—to a competition that would, in the final analysis, slow down market demand for its product.

Lumain remarked that it actually makes sense, especially when juxtaposed against Shell’s popular FuelSave marque—which promises more miles for the same amount of fuel. “I don’t think it’s wrong; it’s like wearing better-quality shoes so you can run longer,” he said. “At SEM, we don’t like wastage.” He added that it’s very hard for the general public to see what Shell is doing—particularly in the area of research and development. The SEM affords a glimpse at “what Shell is trying to do.”

More importantly, Lumain asserted that the SEM is an “open platform” for all to learn from. “(Shell) does not own any patent or discoveries… by the students. We leave it to them. This is an educational platform where you display your innovation,” he said. “That’s why it’s in a public park. We don’t sell anything. We don’t charge for anything. Just display your innovation.”

Shell is also looking at fueling not just the entries, but the subsequent debate at the so-called energy-water-food nexus. In its website, Shell stated: “The world’s water, energy and food systems are tightly linked. Water is needed to extract energy and generate power; energy is needed to treat and transport water; and both water and energy are needed to grow food. In the coming decades these vital resources will come under greater pressure. Working across industries and sectors will help address their complex relationship, known as the energy-water-food nexus.”

Lumain stressed that we need to take a long hard look at limited resources vis-à-vis a growing population. “This is the platform to get that debate going,” he underscored.

The SEM will once again be staged in Manila next year, and Lumain expressed hope in seeing even greater participation and private-sector support. There’s clearly a lot at stake—and we’re not talking about the trophies, either.