Shell event: ECO TITANS 2012

In a context marked by the emergence of new fuel and vehicle technologies, innovative urban design and sustainable infrastructure solutions, different ways to address the growing challenges of urban transportations are being explored. The main goal is to use renewable energies to enhance sustainable mobility. India is one of the largest energy consumers in the world and its energy demand continues to rise. As vehicle ownership expands and oil demand in the transport sector is expected to grow further, the big challenge ahead for the country is to reduce both carbon emissions and the consumption of non-renewable energies. The Shell Eco Marathon, a global initiative promoting fuel-efficient transportation research, suggests that the involvement of talented youth may bring the solution.

Each year, the Shell Eco Marathon challenges millions of engineer students from all over the world to design, build and test ultra-energy efficient vehicles capable of traveling the farthest using the least fuel. Running on energy sources ranging from diesel to solar, participants compete in a car designed purely for ultra-energy-efficiency or one that also considers the practical needs of everyday drivers. In 2012, the race started in the United States, with 68 teams competing in Huston from 29th March to 1st April. On May 17th, the contest moved to the "green city" of Rotterdam and saw the participation of three thousand students from 24 European countries. From July 4-7, 2012, 1,500 students from 18 countries across Asia came together for the third time at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, to compete in stretching the limits of energy efficiency.

Vellore Institute of Technology'steam, Team Eco Titans participated from India, co- sponsored by Michelin. The team is composed of 12 undergraduates with different engineering background who started their project in August 2011 spending all their free time to work on it. The car they have designed tackles about 150-200 km per litre of fuel while producing polluting emissions which do not exceed the levels allowed. 90% of the chassis is made from aluminium, aero-dynamically designed and eco-friendly materials have been chosen as many alternatives.

Little drops make an ocean. Here is the simple but powerful idea which inspired the VIT team. Why couldn't we follow their example?

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