X

Shell's Eco-marathon serves up super cool futuristic cars

The car race features student teams from 18 countries competing in a race to see whose car is more fuel efficient.

Aloysius Low
Aloysius Low is a Senior Editor at CNET covering mobile and Asia. Based in Singapore, he loves playing Dota 2 when he can spare the time and is also the owner-minion of two adorable cats.
Aloysius Low
shellecomarathon-1
1 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

The Shell Eco-marathon took place at the Changi Exhibition Center in Singapore, and the weather was sunny and terribly hot. 

shellecomarathon-5
2 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

The cars go round the track really slowly, using a method called "coast and burn" to save on fuel. 

shellecomarathon-3
3 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

Overtaking on the track can be done either on the left or the right, but you'll have to blast your horn to do so. 

shellecomarathon-4
4 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

It's quite the tight fit for most, so some teams use female drivers (though we can't confirm if the person driving in this one is female).

shellecomarathon-6
5 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

If you're wondering just how small the cars are, here's another look.

shellecomarathon-2
6 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

The Eco-marathon is all about fuel efficiency, so it's no surprise that the race is mostly quiet until the engine turns on for a brief burst of speed. 

shellecomarathon-11
7 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

This Shell Prototype is a reference car that requires the driver to be lying down. 

shellecomarathon-12
8 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

You'll have to lie down to fit.

shellecomarathon-14
9 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

You'll have to squeeze your legs all the way in, so if you're of a bigger size, this will be difficult. 

shellecomarathon-13
10 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

The engine's from a motorcycle, and each vehicle is loaded with a tiny amount of fuel -- around 20ml. 

shellecomarathon-15
11 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

When fully closed, the Prototype aims to be as aerodynamic as possible. 

shellecomarathon-16
12 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

The UrbanConcept wouldn't feel out of place next to a normal car, but it will be a lot smaller. 

shellecomarathon-17
13 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

shellecomarathon-18
14 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

The inside of the Shell UrbanConcept reference resembles a normal car.

shellecomarathon-10
15 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

The Nanyang Technological University's 3D printed car uses hydrogen as fuel.

shellecomarathon-9
16 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

To cut down on weight, the insides of the car uses a honeycomb structure for strength. 

shellecomarathon-8
17 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

Here's another UrbanConcept car that looks quite different from Shell's reference car. 

shellecomarathon-7
18 of 18 Aloysius Low/CNET

Teams getting ready to head out to the track with their cars.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos