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On 15 and 16 October, Shell South Africa in conjunction with the University of Johannesburg will host the third Shell Eco-marathon in Africa. The event will be held at Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria West. The Shell Eco-marathon is a global competition that challenges high school and university students to design, build, test and drive the most energy-efficient vehicle.
This years event will also showcase a host of engineering and energy initiatives ranging from:
Afrikabot - a robotics Competition that provides young students the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in the world of robot science
CO2 DRAGSTER CHALLENGE - which provides the Learners with a challenge of designing and building a race car from a block of wood and a CO2 canister
Lego Challenge - Teams will be required to with the use of a hydrogen fuel cell, power a Lego built car over a distance of 10m.
Delta Environmental Centre Innovative Leaner Energy Programmes - showcasing three of the most successful and innovative energy-related programmes that have been implemented by learners
"It is again an honour for Shell in partnership with the University of Johannesburg's School of Electrical Engineering to host our third Shell Eco-Marathon on the African continent. Shell is committed to inspiring and supporting the next generation engineers as we tackle the world's energy challenges by collaboratively providing more and cleaner energy solutions," said Bonang Mohale, Chairman of Shell South Africa.
This year, 15 participating teams from different high schools and Universities in South Africa and the African continent registered for the competition. The teams are classified under two vehicle categories, that is, Prototype and Urban Concept and can enter under any of the following propulsion systems: Shell Fuel Save Unleaded 93 Gasoline; Shell Fuel Save Diesel; Battery electric or Hydrogen. The winning team will have designed a car that drives the equivalent of the longest distance using the least amount of energy in their chosen category. The goal is not to break speed records but to use as little energy as possible over a set distance.
"Initiatives such as these demonstrate commitment to harbouring young and dynamic talent displayed by learners and students who are dedicated to tackling the energy challenge. The event also serves as an ideal ground to attract and capture young people's interest in the fields of Science, Technology and Engineering," mentioned Professor Johan Meyer Head of the School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Johannesburg.
Shell Eco-marathon is a visible demonstration of Shell's commitment to finding, integrated, responsible solutions to the growing energy demand worldwide. It aims to stimulate all our stakeholders and the general public to engage in energy dialogues.