Here come the champions

The Shell Eco-marathon provides a valuable learning platform, offering participants real-life experience on a level that not many will have the opportunity to repeat. With annual events in the Americas, Europe and Asia, this global competition challenges students to design, build and test the most energy efficient vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy.

The Province of Quebec is home to three Eco-Marathon teams, including the five-time reigning champions from Université Laval!

École de Technologie Supérieure, Evolution Supermileage team

Université Laval, Alérion Supermileage team

Concordia University, Concordia SAE Racing team

Each of these university teams have invested countless hours into their gasoline fueled prototype vehicles, all for the chance to bring home the title of Eco-marathon Americas champion. And this is a title that one of these teams - Alérion Supermileage - is quite familiar with.

The Alérion Supermileage team from Université Laval has been the Eco-marathon champion for the past five years running. This eco-team says the most innovative part of their 44kg car is the self-supporting carbon fiber car shell, with a drag coefficient of about 0.075.

Many students say their main objective in competing in the Eco-marathon is to put into practice what they’ve learned in their engineering curriculum. Through the design-build-text model, students are able to apply learnings in a useful and practical manner.

Eco-car teams from high schools and universities from across the Americas are headed to Detroit, Michigan – the Motor City – to compete April 10-12, 2015.

To be a part of the action, visit the Shell Eco-marathon Americas Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube pages. If you join the eco-conversation, be sure to tag #SEM2015.