The Philippine Team, which composed of University of the Philippines–Diliman’s Dagisik UP, landed eighth place under the UrbanConcept-Battery-Electric category at the recently concluded 2019 Shell Eco-Marathon Asia (SEMA) in Malaysia.

The annual competition gathers students across Asia Pacific and Middle East regions to design, build and test ultra-energy efficient vehicles. There are two types of classes within the competition—the Prototype and the UrbanConcept. Students competes in three different categories based on their selected energy source: Internal Combustion Engine (ICE); Gasoline; diesel; ethanol (biofuel); hydrogen fuel cell; and battery electric power.

Now on its 10th year, the competition returns to where it was first held, bringing together over 100 student teams from 18 different countries to test  which car can go the farthest using the least amount of energy.

UP’s Diliman’s Dagisik used its Siglo 3.0—a custom designed car with motor controller and battery pack that can reach up to 40 kilometers per hour.

In total, eleven student teams from the Philippines made it to this year’s SEMA. Here are the following participants:

  • DLSU-D Stallions Hiraya, De La Salle – Dasmariñas
  • DLSU Eco Car Team – Battery Electric, De La Salle University
  • DLSU Eco Team – I. C. E., De La Salle University
  • NU Prime Sprinter, National University
  • PLM Agsikapin, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
  • PUP-Hygears, Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Manila
  • ATLAS Valor, University of Perpetual Help System – Dalta
  • UST Eco-Tigers I, University of Santo Tomas (UST)
  • Dagisik UP, University of the Philippines Diliman
  • ALAMAT UP, University of the Philippines Diliman
  • Team UMindanao Wildcats, University of Mindanao.

Norman Koch, Global General Manager, Make the Future Live and Shell Eco Marathon, said, “The UrbanConcept cars seem largely more reliable than in previous years. We already have quite a number of valid runs than ever before. They seem, over all, more reliable and I think being on a professional race track with ample space, big turns for overtaking helped the students to achieve better results.”

In addition, top performing UrbanConcept teams compete at the Drivers‘ World Championship Qualifier, a race that combines the proven energy-efficiency strategy, skills, and speed of the driver.

Shell Eco-marathon is a visible demonstration of Shell’s commitment to help the world meet its growing energy needs in a responsible way by working together with students, partners and other stakeholders.