Arctic Oil & Gas Directory: UAF makes mark at Shell Eco Marathon in Houston

Shell said April 5 that colleges and universities once again gathered in the sweltering heat of Houston, Texas to participate in the 2012 Shell Eco Marathon competition. But once again, it was the scrappy team from the coldest, northern-most university in the United States that garnered a great deal of the attention.

A team of ten UAF engineering students not only wrapped-up the 2012 marathon with another impressive showing, they became the most talked-about team for their ability to use leftover scraps and parts to build cars that would eventually make it on the track. Making more with less, after all, symbolizes what Shell Eco Marathon is all about.

“This is the second time we’ve had UAF at Shell Eco Marathon and we are happy to have them back,” said Shell Alaska VP, Pete Slaiby.

The idea behind Shell’s annual Eco Marathon competition is to design and build a vehicle that uses the least amount of energy and travels the furthest distance.

Teams can enter futuristic “prototypes” that are designed to reduce drag and maximize efficiency or they can enter “urban concept” vehicles that meet the needs of today’s drivers. Entries in both divisions use conventional fuels like diesel and gas, or they can rely on alternatives — gas to liquids, solar, ethanol, bio-fuels, or electric plug-in power.