Shell Eco-marathon challenges student teams from around the world to design, build and test ultra energy-efficient vehicles.
The 2015 BMW i3 wins the World Green Car of the Year Award at the New York International Auto Show.
Those who have passed, immediately began rolling their cars out for test and practice runs through the afternoon. One of those teams eager to get onto the street is The ShopGirls from Granite Falls High School in Washington State.
Back inside the car preparation hall of the adjacent George Brown Convention Centre, many students resumed readying their cars for the rigorous safety and technical inspection that must be cleared before they can move onto the track.
Niel praised the technical ability and intelligence evident in all the teams: “Anyone concerned about the next generation’s ability to solve society’s problems, whatever they might be, need not worry.”
Mayor Parker called that aspect “bittersweet”, but added she was happy Shell Eco-marathon Americas had called Houston home for the past five years.
More than a thousand students heard words of praise and welcome then hustled back to their cars to start rolling out for the first practice runs on the downtown city track at Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2014.
From Canada to Brazil, hundreds of students across the Americas have been fighting sleep to put in unusually long hours.
The most recent winner achieved 3,587 miles per gallon. Shell Eco-marathon America is open to the public and free of charge.
More than 100 teams and thousands of students from across America bring their ultra energy efficient vehicles to see who car can travel the farthest.
The events spark debate about the future of mobility and inspire young engineers to push the boundaries of fuel efficiency.
With annual events first in the Americas, then Europe and Asia, the winners are the teams that go the furthest using the least amount of energy.