Qatar Hosts First Shell Eco-marathon in Middle East

For the first time, the Shell Eco-marathon, a premier global energy-efficiency engineering program for students, is coming to the Middle East, hosted in Qatar under the patronage of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums. 

Richard Tallant, executive vice president of GTL and managing director of Shell Companies Qatar, announced the event at Web Summit Qatar 2024 on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, alongside students from last year’s Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and Middle East regional championship.

Speaking on the announcement, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa, said: “Bringing the Shell Eco-marathon to Qatar marks a significant milestone in our commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability among our nation’s youth and the wider region. 

“This event marks the beginning of the collaboration between our upcoming Qatar Auto Museum and Shell to empower young minds to tackle the pressing challenges of energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. This collaboration underscores Qatar’s dedication to shaping a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.”

The Shell Eco-marathon is a global academic initiative that challenges student teams to design and build energy-efficient vehicles that travel the furthest on the least amount of fuel. Its goal is to push technical boundaries and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to develop future energy solutions.

The program offers a platform for teams to delve into all aspects of design and technology, utilizing their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills to create ultra-energy-efficient cars and compete with them on the track. Each year, three regional championships are held globally to challenge experienced teams and encourage innovation in energy efficiency.

Richard Tallant expressed enthusiasm about Shell Eco-marathon’s debut in the Middle East, hosted in Qatar. He noted, “We are thrilled that Shell Eco-marathon is making its debut in the Middle East and will be hosted in Qatar. This decision reflects Qatar’s strong commitment to innovation and education, and Qatar’s world-class infrastructure will provide the perfect backdrop for teams to showcase their energy-efficient vehicles. 

“I would like to express my gratitude to HE Sheikha Al Mayassa for her support in bringing Shell Eco-marathon to the country, and to our strategic partners who will help make this event possible. This marks a significant milestone in our commitment to fostering sustainable innovation in the region.”

At the 2024 Asia-Pacific and Middle East regional event in Indonesia in July, teams from Qatar University, Texas A&M University at Qatar, and the University of Doha for Science and Technology will compete with their purpose-built vehicles.

Participants can enter one of two vehicle classes: Urban Concept or Prototype. Urban Concept vehicles, resembling conventional road cars, feature familiar passenger car attributes. The Prototype category includes ultra-efficient, lightweight vehicles designed to achieve record-breaking distances with minimal fuel consumption.

The vehicles are powered by internal combustion engines, battery electric systems, or hydrogen fuel cells, employing advanced engineering, aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and innovative designs to maximize efficiency.

In addition to technical skills, Shell Eco-marathon fosters collaboration, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities among students. It provides a platform for young innovators to display their talent, creativity, and dedication to engineering and sustainability.

At Web Summit Qatar 2024, visitors had the opportunity to view a Shell Eco-marathon vehicle and learn more about the program. Shell Eco-marathon Qatar is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025 at the Lusail International Circuit.