Thai teams sweep awards at Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2011

>> Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2011 gathers the region’s brightest youths

Students from Thailand and Singapore stretched the boundaries of fuel efficiency further and have set two new records at Shell Eco-marathon Asia, held at the Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Thai team Luk Jao Mae Khlong Prapa emerged winner under the Prototype Category,

despite being newcomers to the competition.  They set a new record of 2,213.4 kilometers on a litre of ethanol, enough to drive from Kuala Lumpur to Chang Mai in northern Thailand.

This is even further than last year’s record - 1,521.9 km/l – which could take them from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok.

Last year’s winner, another Thai team, Kang Thabbok Upatham Changkol Kho So Tho Bo School did better, also improved their showing, chalking up 1,607.9 km/l.

“We are really happy with the results, and we are really proud to join this competition. We will bring the experience from this event with us into the future,” said Luk Jao Mae Khlong Prapa Team Manager Narongdech Keeratipranon.

Singapore’s NP-Distanza Proto, from the Ngee Ann Polytechnic, also set a new record of 84.9 km/kWh with a prototype hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

"It has been an honour to participate in this regional competition. It has been a great opportunity for Ngee Ann Polytechnic - this is not something most ordinary schools can come up with. We are proud to be in this team and are grateful for the exposure," said team driver Pay Chin Koon of Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

Another highlight of the E-mobility class – introduced this year – was the Malaysian team from the UTM International Campus, clean vehicle team, with 390.4 km/kWh.

In the Urban Concept Category, Indonesian Team Mesin ITS4’s internal combustion entry, running on FAME (fatty acid methyl ester), garnered the best efficiency performance with a distance of 149.8 kilometres/litre.

Following its debut event last year, Shell Eco-marathon Asia has attracted more participants, with 93 teams from 12 countries, including new entrants Brunei Darussalam, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam.

Shell hosted the 27^th edition of the Shell Eco-marathon in Europe this year, and in 2007 it was brought to Americas with much success. Bringing the competition to Asia helps make this programme a true global initiative for Shell.