Philippine Teams Show Resilience in Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and the Middle East 2023
The Philippine teams competing at the Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) Asia-Pacific and the Middle East 2023 continue to push for a chance to succeed in the regional leg. The two teams from Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila (PUP) and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (UPHSD) are part of 76 teams from 13 countries who are taking part in SEM Asia-Pacific and the Middle East 2023 which is being held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit.
Shell Eco-marathon aims to inspire the Changemakers of Tomorrow to develop innovative solutions for a sustainable future by challenging them to design, build, and test energy-efficient vehicles.
“We believe that with determination and hard work, the students can accomplish incredible things for their countries. The competition allows them to focus their efforts and creativity in advancing technology in the field of energy-efficient vehicles which is essential for a cleaner energy future,” Sean Winnet, Vice President of Shell Asia-Pacific Corporate Relations said.
Since the start of the event last July 4, the teams spend time working on their vehicles in time for the actual start of competition.
Despite the challenges, both teams are optimistic that they can finish this season successfully. “We feel so excited. It seems like this will be another chance for us to bounce back from what happened last year. Although we won an off-track award last year, this time we want to make sure that our best will turn into something more rewarding,” Edward Brian Custodio, Team Driver of PUP Hygears said.
“We want to achieve the expectations of the people who supported us from the very beginning. First, we want to pass the technical inspection, have a valid run, and get good results from that valid run,” Emelito Jr. Montano, Team Reserve Driver for UPHSD’s ALTAS Valor.
During the official opening program held last July 5, Indonesian officials expressed their support and gratitude for the event.
Before going through the racetrack, all teams for the competition need to pass the Technical Inspection stage. PUP Hygears’ vehicle Luna IV is competing under the Urban Concept Battery Electric category. On the other hand, UPHSD ALTAS Valor’s vehicle Avalon is under the Prototype Internal Combustion Engine category. As of writing, the Philippine teams are undergoing Technical Inspections, which will continue until July 7, at noon.
The Philippine teams are still in high spirits and are maximizing all the help and support they can get from their mentors, SEM alumni, and fellow competitors.
The awarding ceremony for the Asia-Pacific and Middle East leg will be on July 9. Winners from the region will compete in the World Championship of Shell Eco-marathon in Bangalore, India in October.
Future of mobility
Energy demand is increasing globally, driven by a growing population with its increasing standard of living. At the sidelines of the Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and the Middle East 2023 competition, Shell hosted a panel session titled “Future of Mobility with Zero Emission” discussing Indonesia’s mobility journey towards net-zero emissions and how government, small-medium enterprises and the industry can play a collective role in shaping this journey.
The panel featured speakers, including Ingrid Siburian, President Director and Country Chair of Shell Indonesia, Gigih Udi Atmo, Director of Conservation Energy, Directorate General of New, Renewable and Conservation Energy, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, and Rahul Gupta, associate partner and a senior expert on sustainability at McKinsey & Company. They discussed the progress and outlook for the future of mobility in South-east Asia, the milestones which will indicate progress and the importance of collaboration.
