The Shell Eco-marathon began in 1939 when two scientists at a Shell research laboratory in the United States laid a wager on whose vehicle could get the most mileage per gallon of fuel. In 1985, this competition for fuel economy was brought to Europe where it was aptly named the Shell Eco-marathon. In its launching in France, the Shell Eco-marathon attracted thousands of young engineers and scientists from 20 European countries to participate. In 2007, the said competition was first held in California, U.S.
This year, the Shell Eco-marathon is coming to Asia for the first time. The Asian eco-marathon will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where premiere engineering universities from Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines are expected to compete.
The Asian Shell Eco-marathon is an educational platform for engineering students. It is a first-class venue where they can practice their innovation in designing and building a vehicle that utilizes the least amount of fuel to travel the farthest distance.
Mapua Institute of Technology School of Mechanical Engineering will take part in this Asian Shell Eco-marathon as one of the representatives of the Philippines. This competition is an opportunity to exhibit Mapua’s expertise in mechanical design. It is a venue to demonstrate why Mapua has been considered one of the country’s forerunners in mechanical engineering education.
The Mapua Team is led by Dr. Manuel C. Belino with project leaders Engr. John Judilla and Mr. Sherwin Magon, who created the world cup winner Mechanical Anti-Terrorist Concept (MAC) bomb disposal robot and faculty adviser Engr. Igmedio Isla. The team members are selected senior undergraduate students of Mapua’s School of Mechanical Engineering, namely Jericho Rivera, Kenneth Caraig, Karl Co, Willord Garcia, Charles Alviar, Jeferson Nanao, Albert Cudal and Richard Turalba.