Thai Youth Shines Again at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and Middle East 2024

Thai youth have once again brought recognition to Thailand at the Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and Middle East 2024. The RMUTP Racing team from Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon won the runner-up prize in the Prototype Category with an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. Using just one litre of ethanol fuel, their vehicle achieved a distance equivalent to 892 kilometres. This achievement not only highlights the capabilities of Thai youth in developing automotive innovation but also showcases Thailand’s potential and readiness in technology and energy conservation at an international level.

The Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and Middle East 2024 is a significant platform for youth teams from educational institutions in Asia and the Middle East to showcase their creativity and engineering skills through the invention of highly energy-efficient vehicles. This year’s event took place from July 2-6, 2024, at the Mandalika International Circuit in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. A total of 78 teams from educational institutions in 12 countries, including Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, participated in the competition. All four participating Thai youth teams came from Amphawa Vocational College, Sakon Nakhon Technical College, Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon, and Phranakhon Rajabhat University.

RMUTP Racing from Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon is one of the Thai youth teams that have developed innovative energy-saving vehicles in the Prototype Category using an internal combustion engine (ICE) and ethanol fuel. The team won second place by using only one litre of fuel to cover the equivalent distance of 892.5 kilometres, an improvement from their fourth place finish in the same competition in 2023. The performance of the Thai youth teams this time not only demonstrates their determination, creativity, engineering knowledge, and innovation, but also reflects the potential and readiness of Thai youth in the international competition arena.

Ms. Ornuthai Na Chiangmai, Country Chair, The Shell Company of Thailand Company Limited, said, “The Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and Middle East is a vital platform that continuously inspires the new generation to utilise their creativity in developing innovation and technology. This competition challenges participants to achieve energy efficiency while empowering youth from across the region to apply their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) knowledge and skills in designing and building highly efficient vehicles. We hope these innovations will play a crucial role in revolutionising the future of energy use, aligning with the Powering Progress strategy, which supports the transition to clean energy for a sustainable quality of life for everyone.”

At the Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and Middle East 2024, each team must pass technical inspections to ensure safety before competing. The competition is divided into two categories: Prototype and Urban Concept. The Prototype category features three-wheeled, lightweight vehicles designed to minimise resistance and use the least amount of energy. The Urban Concept category features four-wheeled vehicles that resemble passenger cars. Contestants in each category can choose from three types of energy: battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cells, and internal combustion engines (gasoline, ethanol,
or diesel).

Even though the Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific & Middle East 2024 competition has ended, the effort to find sustainable energy transition solutions continues to challenge the new generation to push beyond their limits in discovering efficient energy usage methods.

The Shell Eco-marathon Asia-Pacific and Middle East 2025 will be held in February 2025 in Doha, Qatar. The event is open to talented and creative Thai youth, offering them the opportunity to once again showcase their potential on the regional stage.