General tips

To get a feeling of each edition of Shell Eco-marathon it is important get the same attitude and understand the competition’s main goal. A part of this research can be done by visiting the event and contacting other institutions that have taken part in the past, and teachers or fellow students who have a long history in the event and experience to share.

Time management

Another important tip from our four academics is not to underestimate the huge commitment that participating in the Shell Eco-marathon will imply for all involved – the institution itself, its teachers, but more particularly for the students.

To this end, “time management is crucial”, says Massimiliana Carello, and Professor Lu of the National University of Singapore agrees, also warning to foresee the unforeseen. “Time is a critical factor in this project—start very early because there will always be obstacles”, he advises.

Get organized

Also notice the importance of getting your team well organized from the outset and ascribing clear roles and responsibilities. “Get this right from the outset and ascribe roles according to experience, competence and interest, which will give effective use of the team’s human resources”, says Massimiliana, from a Italian team.

Professor Lu says the same: “Design a simple car that works. It sounds simple but it doesn’t make sense to create a car that looks great with an inefficient engine or breaking system!”.

Get involved and good luck.