LH-EST team from Lac Hong University to head to global competition in London this July. Photo: Shell Vietnam

A Vietnam team claimed top spot in the UrbanConcept Electric Battery category, with returning champion LH-EST from Lac Hong University protecting their crown for the third straight year with an energy efficiency rate of 170 km per kWh.

In the Prototype - Internal Combustion Engine category, meanwhile, all four Vietnamese student teams delivered exceptional performances to complete the technical inspections. HaUI AUTO (Hanoi University of Industry) made it to the Top 4 and the DUT_Gatech Team (University of Danang - University of Science and Technology) made it to the Top 10 in this category, with records of 824 km per liter and 355 km per liter, respectively.

The Top 3 UrbanConcept teams from each energy category made it to the Drivers’ World Championship (DWC) Qualifier and competed in a race to see who could cross the finish line first without running out of their limited allocation of energy. Facing off with eight student teams from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, LH-EST finished their dream journey in third position and will head to the global competition in London in July.

“We lost the DWC competition three times in previous events hosted in Philippines and Singapore,” said Nguyen Thanh Trung from LH-EST (Lac Hong University), which used a battery electric car. “But finally, we did it. We made it with our fighting spirit, and the solidarity and determination of the whole team. We are so happy and cannot wait to do our best in an even bigger race in Europe!”

“We are very happy and proud of the achievements of our Vietnamese students this year,” said Mr. Tran Hong Van, General Manager of Shell Vietnam. “They pushed beyond their limits and showed their
readiness to respond to all challenges. I believe that Vietnam’s young generation are able to go further. As for the student team from Lac Hong University, I recognize their relentless efforts over the years. They have brought Vietnam’s innovative energy efficiency ideas to the world.”

Make the Future Live is a global program bringing people and ideas into collaborative spaces, driving towards a lower-carbon energy future. With events hosted in countries around the globe, they aim to
provide an opportunity for multiple stakeholders, including students, entrepreneurs, businesses, governments, and the public to experience, test, and contribute bright energy ideas.

This year, five student teams from five technical universities and colleges represented Vietnam. The Shell Eco-marathon is a unique, global competition that challenges students to push the boundaries of
energy efficiency on the road. The contest provides an arena for students to test vehicles they design and build themselves. Results are measured on who can drive the furthest on the equivalent of 1 kWh or 1 liter of fuel.

VN Economic Times