Shell's second edition of Make the Future Live India to be held in Bangalore

Global energy major, Shell will host the second edition of its Make the Future Live India at the Shell Technology Centre, Bangalore (STCB) between November 19 – 22, 2019. The Make the Future Live is the company's global programme that focuses on bringing ideas into collaborative spaces, driving towards a lower-carbon energy future. At the centre of the programme is the three decade old Shell Eco-marathon has seen thousands of high school and university students from across the world build ultra-energy-efficient vehicles, in a variety of designs, using a spectrum of energy types.

The company says the STCB is the technology and engineering hub for Shell, offering high-tech innovation and R&D for multidisciplinary collaboration. This it says makes it an ideal location to host young minds and help them put their innovative fuel-efficient vehicles to the test. One of Shell’s three technology hubs globally, the STCB is the perfect backdrop for Make the Future Live India, bringing together students, business, academia and government to explore more and cleaner energy solutions for a lower-carbon future.

Inaugurated in 1939,  Shell Eco-marathon is claimed to be the world’s longest-running student competition wherein engineering students are challenged to design, build and test fuel-efficient cars. The event is hosted in several countries around the globe, which aims to provide an opportunity for multiple stakeholders including students, entrepreneurs, businesses, governments and the public, to experience, test and contribute to bright energy ideas.

The India edition will showcase innovation and foster dialogue on clean energy solutions for powering  progress in mobility, while deliberating on technologies, challenges and opportunities as well as partnerships for success. Shell says this will also offer a valuable opportunity for student teams to test and fine tune their self designed and built energy efficient vehicles for the regional Shell Eco-marathon Asia competition in 2020. For new participants, the event presents a platform to showcase skill, be part of a world-class experience and test drive vehicles with fellow peers. Student teams that take to the track will be evaluated on the criteria of who covers the greatest distance using the least amount of energy.

Commenting on the same, Nitin Prasad, chairman, Shell Companies in India said, “We recognise that some of the brightest ideas come from young innovative minds who are already immersing themselves in tackling complex energy challenges. The ingenuity demonstrated by young students is not only commendable, but truly inspirational. A striking example of perseverance, talent and hard work is Team Averera from IIT-BHU that not only emerged victorious at Make the Future India last year, but also made the country proud by standing second at the Asia chapter of the festival this year. With the newest edition of Make the Future Live India, we hope to continue to elevate our legacy of nurturing our people, partnerships and innovations for a better tomorrow. I welcome all to come join us in this endeavour with encouragement, participation and support.”

The first edition of the Make the Future India witnessed enthusiastic performance by the student teams. In the 2018 edition, Team DTU Supermileage claimed victory in the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Urban Concept category by achieving a mileage of 154kpl, which is the equivalent of driving from Chennai to Pondicherry on 1-litre of fuel. On the other hand, Team Averera from IIT-BHU achieved an astounding 362.5 km/kWh in the Prototype Battery Electric Category, which is the equivalent of driving from Chennai to Bangalore on a single unit of electricity.