20 SHELL WORLD PHILIPPINES

SHELL EcO-maRatHOn aSia 2010: REaDy, SEt, GO tEam PHiLiPPinES!

A s the leading innovator for the new energy future, Shell has introduced the Shell Eco-marathon, an educational

platform that encourages innovation, reinforces conservation and fosters the development of leading technology for greater energy efficiency. Held in Europe for over 25 years and more recently in the Americas, the Shell Eco-marathon will come to Asia for the very first time in July 2010 at the famous Sepang International Circuit of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Shell Eco-marathon 2010 will be the Philippines’ first time to participate in the annual competition. Representing the country are college students from Don Bosco Technical College, Mapua Institute of Technology and the University of Santo Tomas (UST). Can these top engineering schools in the country step up to the challenge and ultimately bring pride and honour to the Philippines?

tHE cHaLLEnGE The principle of the Shell Eco-marathon is simple: to design and build a vehicle that uses the least amount of fuel to travel the farthest distance. Participants can design vehicles for the “Prototype” or the “Urban Concept” category. The Prototype category encourages a maximum of technical creativity and innovative, futuristic design, imposing only minimal restriction on the critical automotive design aspect. The Urban Concept category, on the other hand, is intended to be closer to road going vehicles in appearance and technology, addressing current transportation aspects and trends. As long as the teams adhere to safety regulations, the design of their vehicles is limited only by their imagination. For both categories, teams can use any of the following fuels to power their vehicles: conventional fuels such as

diesel, gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or alternative fuels such as solar, electric, hydrogen, biofuels and Gas to Liquids (GTL).

Through this friendly competition, Shell is encouraging students to build the cars of tomorrow with greater energy efficiency and hope that this event will continue to inspire others to develop sustainable solutions that will meet the growing global demands for energy in a responsible way.

HUmBLE ORiGinS The Shell Eco-marathon began in 1939 at a Shell research laboratory in the U.S. as a friendly wager between scientists to see whose car would give the best mileage. From these humble origins, the organised competition for fuel economy has been running in Europe for years, where the event has grown to include more than 200 teams, thousands of spectators and widespread media attention. In 2007, the event was brought to the Americas with much success. Bringing the Shell Eco-

On JuLy 2010, yOunG EnGinEERS FROM ALL OVER ASiA WiLL GEAR uP AS THEy TAKE PART in A uniquE COMPETiTiOn THAT iS nOT BASED On SPEED, nEiTHER BREAKinG RECORDS nOR FiniSHinG FiRST. THiS COMPETiTiOn, inSTEAD, iS A RACE TO PuSH THE LiMiTS OF FuEL EFFiCiEnCy.

By cHRiStinE R. GUiSOn

aLL SyStEmS GO for the Team Leaders. (From l-r) Tim Orille from uST, Mark Lester Arrieta from Don Bosco and Jericho Rivera from Mapua

SHELL WORLD PHILIPPINES 21

marathon to Asia helps make this programme a true global initiative for Shell.

BREEDinG taLEnt, cREatiVity anD innOVatiOn The Shell Eco-marathon is a trail-blazing educational platform for students - unique in concept and rich in practical experience. The annual competition attracts thousands of participants who are eager to offer real solutions to the energy crisis. It challenges and inspires young designers and engineers around the world to develop new approaches of sustainable mobility, design and build

the most energy-efficient vehicle to compete against other teams' vehicles.

“It is a major educational project where students work together to explore potential solutions to both current and future transport and energy challenges,” said Shell companies in the Philippines (SciP) Country Chairman Edgar Chua.

The teams work all year round on a real technical project, with the obligation to produce demonstrable results at the final event. From designing to financing the vehicle, student participants learn to manage the total project. Through their participation, students build up their skills in science, technology, mathematics, design, and business and are able to apply these skills to a “real world” situation. In addition, the students have an opportunity to showcase their skills to potential employers and as they work together to develop their entries, learn to think differently about energy and how it is used.

The search for sponsors for technical or financial partnerships is also an excellent opportunity to introduce students to the real business world, both through their efforts to market and communicate their projects, and through the contacts they make with external firms.

“This friendly competition is a chance for our talented engineering students to let their imaginations run wild,” shared Roberto Kanapi, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation Vice President for Communications. “It is Shell’s contribution in encouraging the creativity and passion of the Filipino youth to help meet the energy challenge.”

aLL ROaDS LEaD tO KUaLa LUmPUR At a curtain raiser event held in July 2009 to specially grant select media and academics a preview of the Shell Eco-marathon Asia, five selected student teams - two from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, one from the National University of Singapore (NUS), and two from the ITE (Institute of Technical Education) College West in Singapore - took the vehicles they had designed and built for a demonstration run around Sepang International Circuit's north track in Malaysia, the place where the inaugural event will be held from July 8-10, 2010.

"Malaysia has been chosen to host this first Asian event because of its importance among Shell's Asian heartlands. The country's excellent infrastructure and this wonderful facility in Sepang also makes this an ideal venue for us to host the teams that will come from all round the region for the inaugural event this July 2010," said Tan Chong Meng, Shell's Executive Vice President of Global Business to Business. The preview also served as the ideal platform for a forum on sustainable mobility. Conceived as an open dialogue, the roundtable aimed at encouraging participants from different interest groups and non-governmental bodies to engage in lively debates with a view to achieving a common vision. Over 80 participants, including representatives from the industry, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academe and students exchanged views and thoughts on technological innovation to meet mobility challenges. aPPEtitE FOR mOREAll in all, the curtain raiser event was received as a great appetiser: media, academics, NGOs and, of course, the students, definitely now

team Grigio Don Bosco Technical Collegeteam atalanta

Mapua institute of Technology

USt Engineering Eco-marathon teamuniversity of Santo Tomas

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hunger for the real event to start next year. To-date, over 107 educational institutions from Indonesia, Pakistan, Singapore, India, Malaysia, China and the Philippines, to name a few, have indicated interest in participating in the July 2010 Shell Eco-marathon Asia.

GO tEam PHiLiPPinES! On November 18, 2009 at the National Sports Grill in Makati City, Shell companies in the Philippines Country Chairman Edgar Chua welcomed representatives from the top three technical universities composed of engineering students, deans and professors to the launch of Team Philippines, the group that will be waving the Philippine flag in the inaugural Shell Eco-marathon Asia.

R e p r e s e n t i n g the country are engineering students from Don Bosco Technical College, Mapua Institute of Technology and UST. They are among the 107 educational institutions from all over Asia who will battle it out next year at the Sepang International Circuit.

Hailing from the best technical schools in the country, all three teams are more than ready to face up to the challenge. Don Bosco Technical College is a historic educational institution that has carved a niche in technical education, where young people are geared to champion technology

with a soul. Tagged as “Team Grigio”, Don Bosco Technical College is represented by Mark Lester Arrieta (Team Leader), Angelo Blanco, Derrick Ferdinand Figueroa, Mark-Liwell Lontoc, Omega John Ruiz, Armin Lexter Tan, Edmund Angeles, Jason De Guzman, John Elvin Jimena, Janus Magat, Geraldo Sadian, Primo Eduardo Diaz, Patrick Crespo, Ivan Patrick Puno and the only female member of the group, Erica Vicera.

The school’s entry is named after Don Bosco’s guardian dog, Grigio, a name which Don Bosco himself gave to the mysterious creature, which on many occasions proved

providential for him whenever he found himself in danger. By naming the team after the enigmatic character, the school hopes to endow on both the vehicle and the people working on it the same kind of protection and blessing that Grigio provided for the school’s founder.

Mapua Institute of Technology is known for its pursuit of international standards of

excellence in mechanical engineering education and its investment in development

programmes that explore the use of alterative sources

of energy. Known as “Team Atalanta”, Mapua

Institute of Technology is comprised of Jericho

Paolo Rivera (Team Leader), Kenneth John Caraig,

Willord Garcia, J e f e r s o n Nanao, Charles Edward

Alviar, Albert Jarwin Cudal, Karl Anthony Co and Richard Saul Turalba. Team Leader Jericho Rivera explained the reason behind the team’s name. “Atalanta is the female athlete in Greek mythology. She is the Greek goddess of running, traveling and adventure. She is also known to be a good hunter and is said to be the girl with a strong, can-do attitude. For Team Atalanta, the Shell Eco-marathon is our adventure and we ask the goddess to be with us in this task,” said Rivera.

Lastly, UST, being the oldest engineering school in the country, has produced world-class engineers that are deeply rooted in Filipino culture, heritage, natural arts, and have a sincere concern for the environment. The “UST Engineering Eco-marathon Team” is led by Tim Mervin Pasoquen Orille (Team Leader), together with Rizfer John Azares Cruz, Richard Ching Lao, Ricardo Martin Camara, Audric Colbert Lao, Keith Russel Pilares See, Marion Andrew San Pedro, Edwin John Perey, Jarome Lopez, Kristoffer Lara, Renz Austin Cruz, Jan Carlo Belen, Carlos Colmenares, Lorenzo Anton

Bautista, Waldo Froy Rodriguez, Richard Go and Candice Marjory Sy.

“We, in Shell Philippines, are very happy that we have three teams who will be representing the country at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia. I have no doubt that you have a huge chance to make a good impression because you have your professors and Shell to support you. This is your chance to show to the world that Filipino students can rank among the best in this international event. Good luck, Team Philippines!” enthused Shell companies in the Philippines Country

Chairman Edgar Chua during the launch of Team Philippines.

cHamPiOninG tEcHnicaL SUPERiORityThe Shell Eco-marathon is also an excellent platform for promoting technical careers among the Filipino youth, which is vital for the country’s growth and development.

Chua encouraged the students to do their best as their successful participation in this global competition on innovation can inspire other young people to pursue technical courses in college.

"The Shell Eco-marathon is a perfect venue where Filipino students can demonstrate that they are at par with other engineering students in Asia in terms of technical superiority. We have full faith in us Filipinos. We have full faith in you,” said Chua.

tHE cOncEPtDuring the launch event of Team Philippines, all three Philippine teams excitedly unveiled the blueprint designs of their competing vehicles, showcasing their technology, creativity and innovation.

Mark Lester Arrieta, Team Leader of Don Bosco Technical College, shared that his team will be using lightweight materials for their vehicle. He added that the shell of the car would be carefully analysed to resist air drag. “We have the necessary machines and materials to produce this vehicle. We can do it!” he declared. Don Bosco Technical College Professor Paul Catalan said that they are planning to develop an electronic system to control the engine of the vehicle to make it more fuel efficient. They will also do a preliminary testing to determine the optimised driving pattern.

Meanwhile, Mapua Institute of Technology chose a teardrop design for their vehicle as this lessens the amount of friction in the surface of the vehicle, which makes it very aerodynamic, according to Atalanta Team Leader Jericho Rivera. “We are very proud as Mapuans and as Filipinos to be one of the representatives of the country. We

SHELL WORLD PHILIPPINES 23

have the experience and we are backed by research, a dedicated faculty and dedicated students,” he said. Mapua School of Mechanical Engineering Dean Manuel Belino said that the students are drawn to the project because they are very much interested in cars and engines. He gave an inspiring message to his mentees, “Here is your chance to prove to the world that you could build a fuel efficient car based on what you learned so far in Mechanical Engineering. To all the members of the team, good luck!”

Tim Mervin Orille, UST Engineering Eco-marathon Team Leader, shared that they are focusing on three aspects in designing their vehicle: fuel efficiency, use of l ightweight materials and safety. They designed the cockpit area of the vehicle with materials resembling a rib cage. They will also use pinwheels to help reduce friction. “We are quite confident that we can come up with the right concept and design that will enable us to win the Shell Eco-marathon,” he confidently said. Celebrating their quadric-centennial anniversary in 2011, the team aptly named their vehicle entry “Tiger 400” to dedicate their hard work to the university. UST Professor Raymundo Melegrito shared that they are challenged to come up with a design that will embody the ideals of UST.

As of the moment, their designs will sti l l undergo constant revision but the teams are eyeing to finish their vehicles by the first quarter of 2010 for them

to be able to conduct testing locally before they head to Malaysia where they will be vying for a grand prize of US $1,500.

tEaminG UP FOR tHE EnViROnmEnt The Shell Eco-marathon is a visible demonstration of Shell’s pledge to face head- on the growing demand for energy worldwide in a responsible way, and is an invitation for others to do the same.

“The reason for joining this competition is not to defeat the other teams but to win back mother Earth,” Don Bosco Technical College Professor Paul Catalan aptly said.

Who will go the farthest using the least amount of fuel? Will it be Don Bosco, Mapua or UST? Who will bring pride and glory to the country? Who will win it all at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia? Find out in July 2010.

The race to fuel efficiency is on. Let’s give our support for Team Philippines! SWP

T he race will take place at the North Track of the Sepang International

Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Officially opened in 1999, the Sepang International Circuit is home to

the Malaysian leg of the Formula One World Championship and World

Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Located 85km from Kuala Lumpur city centre, it is easily accessible via highways

and railway links. Being closely situated to the Kuala Lumpur International

Airport, the circuit makes it an ideal place for international events.

With a length of 2.7km, the track features nine turns with access speed of more

than 130km/h. The track is electronically linked through a network of fibre

optic cabling systems along the track to multiple closed circuit TV cameras,

which is centrally monitored at the Race Control Room.

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