A Car that Achieves 6,700 Miles Per Gallon?

Throughout the entire process, the Shell Eco-marathon offers students - who are interested in the world of technology, energy and transport - a unique opportunity to work hands-on to identify possible solutions for meeting future energy needs.

"Shell has one of the broadest fuel portfolios, and vast experience in developing innovative and new fuels to meet society needs," added Sexton. "Educating our young people about sustainable mobility is critical to achieving energy security for the future. Shell is proud to provide students with an educational platform to explore and experiment with technology and fuels, and to develop creative and inventive mobility solutions through the Shell Eco-marathon project."

From vehicle design to financing, student participants gain hands-on experience managing their project and applying skills in science, technology, mathematics, business and design. Along the way, they demonstrate hard work, creativity and ingenuity, while addressing one of the most pressing issues in today's society: sustainable mobility.

Currently, the 2007 European Shell Eco-marathon is set to be the biggest ever, with more than 250 teams from educational institutions in 20 different countries. The key challenge for each team is not only to create the most fuel-efficient vehicle, but also to beat the European Shell Eco-marathon fuel-efficiency records. For combustion engine entries, the record was set in 2004 by the team from Lycee La Joliverie, France, who reached 3,410 kilometers (2,118 miles) on just one liter of fuel. For proto-type vehicles using fuel cells, the record is even more impressive with a hydrogen-powered vehicle built by Swiss team ETH Zurich in 2005 achieving a projected 3,836 kilometers (2,383 miles) on the equivalent of a single liter of fuel. The 2007 European Shell Eco-marathon event will be held at the Nogaro Racing Circuit in the South of France on May 11-13, 2007.

The Shell Eco-marathon is just one example of the initiatives Shell is pursuing in the area of innovation and technology related to sustainable mobility. Shell has invested more than $1 billion in alternative energies over the past five years, making it one of the world's leading companies in the sector. In addition to the thousands of scientists that Shell employs around the world, Shell has appointed a Chief Technology Officer, seven Chief Scientists and established a high-level forum to ensure that Shell continues to innovate at the forefront of the industry. Shell is also proud to be working in partnership with vehicle manufacturers, governments, academic institutions and non-governmental organizations to develop innovative ideas and attainable solutions to meet the growing demands of energy for transportation.

More information, including a complete list of student teams, is available at www.shell.com/us/ecomarathon.

CAPTIONS (All photos by Bob Riha Jr., courtesy of Shell Eco-Marathon Americas.):
Top: Down to the wire, U.C. Berkeley Super Mileage Vehicle team members (L to R) Ryan Pinto, Olek Peewlowski and Zaw Aung Moe collaborate on one of many technical details inivolved in the development of their ultra-mileage combustion engine vehicle for the Shell Eco-marathon Americas challenge.

Middle: U.C. Berkeley Super Mileage Vehicle team prepares their combustion engine vehicle for one of many practice runs to take place prior to this week's Shell Eco-marathon Americas challenge.

Bottom: U.C. Berkeley Super Mileage Vehicle team members (L to R) Mike Watson, Andrew Chang (in car) and Michael Siedel test their ultra-mileage combustion engine vehicle outside the team's workshop in preparation for the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas challenge.