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From Bulgaria

30.01.2012 14:58

Shell Eco Marathon Goes to Rotterdam this Year

All 5 Bulgarian Candidatures have been approved for this years edition of the contest for students

AUTHOR: publics.bg

Electric vehicle designed by TU Sofia students
© Shell България

More than 3,000 students from across Europe are preparing to do exactly that, putting their driving skills and scientific knowledge to the test on a brand new street circuit designed for the 2012 Shell Eco-marathon.

This is the first year that the challenge is being held on city streets, making it accessible for the public to experience the challenge first-hand and for students to apply their knowledge on fuel efficiency to the public road. This 28th edition of Shell Eco-marathon Europe has moved from Germany and takes place on May 17-19 in the new host city of Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The move to a street circuit, a first in Shell Eco-marathon Europe history, offers new challenges for the 227 competing teams invited from 24 countries. It sets a new standard for years to come. With five 90° corners on the route, teams will need to rely on their driving skills this year with braking, accelerating and cornering accounting for up to 50% of the results. Taking the challenge to the streets demonstrates the practical applicability for future mobility and energy efficiency, and brings Shell Eco-marathon Europe closer to the public.

In the city of Rotterdam, Shell has found a perfect partner. The city has years of experience in hosting large scale events and festivals and aims to be the European Green Capital in 2014.

Alexandra van Huffelen, Alderman of Rotterdam explains: “Rotterdam is proud to host such a large and meaningful event as Shell Eco-marathon Europe. We continuously stimulate all sorts of sustainable mobility initiatives to achieve cleaner air quality, reduce noise nuisance and half CO2 emissions and this event is also a great fit with our commitment to become world’s most sustainable world port city in 2014. We are confident the location of the circuit and Shell’s professional approach will attract many visitors from across Europe.”

Shell Eco-marathon is gaining evermore popularity among the general public. Therefore this year’s European competition will entail much more than the fuel economy challenge for teams; it will provide a unique and inspiring experience for people of all ages across Europe to experience the future of energy and mobility with a variety of interactive activities for the public.

Bulgaria is expected to solidify its position among leading participants in the event. For the first time all five Bulgarian candidates and their projects have been approved for participation. Moreover, Bulgaria will make its debut in the plug-in electric vehicle (EV) category, represented by students from the Technical University Sofia.

TU Varna will compete with two models in 2012.

Last but not least, a secondary school was allowed to participate in the marathon for the first time. Students from the Professional Secondary School for Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism of Chepelare will compete in the electric mobility branch of the contest.

More info on Shell Eco Marathon at www.shell.com/ecomarathon/europe.