Shelling out some fuel good, feel-good news

A while back, I had the chance to sit down with Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation’s Suiee Suarez and Tony Nebrida Jr., NGO and stakeholder relations manager and media relations manager, respectively.

The two had exciting news: Pilipinas Shell had won a bid to host three successive annual stagings of Shell’s Eco-marathon Asia, “a competition which challenges student teams from around the world to design, build, and test ultra-energy-efficient vehicles.”

The contest has its roots all the way back in 1939, when Shell Oil Company workers in the US would make wagers on who could travel furthest on the same amount of fuel. It formally evolved into its present incarnation in 1985, when it debuted in Europe. The Eco-marathon caught on in the US in 2007, and in Asia by 2010.

This seeming obsession with fuel economy is pillared on unassailable truths and educated projections with regard to energy consumption. “By 2015, we expect the demand for energy to double. At the same time, if we continue to use energy at the rate or efficiency that we use it now, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions will also double,” Suarez said. Sounds ominous, indeed.

He continued: “What we need then is twice the energy, but half of the CO2 produced. That means we have to be very, very efficient. That is exactly the message that we want to put through in terms of mobility.”

In concert with effective use of fuel, Suarez and Nebrida asserted the need for “diversifying our sources of energy.” Nebrida underscored: “We need a good energy mix.”

Back to the Asian version of the Shell Eco-marathon, the Philippines has been consistently increasing representation. Starting with Don Bosco Technical College, the Mapua Institute of Technology, and the University of the Philippines-Diliman in 2010, we fielded a total of six teams in July last year—with De La Salle University, Technological Institute of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas and the University of San Carlos joining in the Sepang, Malaysia event.

Suarez explained that there are two main categories: Urban Concept Cars and Prototypes. The former is a more contemporary, real-world interpretation of vehicles (which should have, among other things, fenders, windshield wipers, fenders, lights, and even a luggage compartment), while the latter, Suarez said, is more “anything goes, except that there must be at least three wheels.”

As you may have imagined, there is a myriad of fuel types available today, and participants are encouraged to let their creativity run free. “They can use almost anything,” insisted Suarez. “Gas, diesel, solar, hydrogen, battery, bio-diesel, bio-ethanol, gasoline.” Of course, similarly fueled entries are pitted against each other, apples-to-apples fashion.

Some 120 teams from 18 countries (Brunei Darussalam, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and the Philippines) took part in the 2012 Shell Eco-marathon Asia at the famous Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

TIP placed third overall in the diesel category—mustering a staggering figure of 164 kilometers per liter—and additionally notched the “Best in Team Spirit Award.”

DLSU’s Team Proto bagged the “Technical Innovation Award” for its “innovative battery management system and smart cruise control function to electronically ensure the best efficiency possible.” The team was also recognized for having the “most advanced telemetry system.” In previous stagings, teams from UP and Mapua had earned nods as well.

I asked (rather cheekily) why Shell is doing something like this. Isn’t it detrimental to the business of selling fuel? Better fuel economy will mean dwindling sales, right?

“Shell is not just an oil company, but an energy company,” said Nebrida, and maintained the company is investing in technology towards, again, energy diversity. “We believe it’s what the planet needs,” he declared.

Suarez added that part of the big picture is that the Philippines needs more scientists and engineers—exactly the kind of thinkers that the Shell Eco-marathon should find resonance with. “We need them to unlock the challenges we face,” he said. “If the youth are more involved in science and technology, they’ll be able to make the right choices that will enable society to be prepared for our (energy future).”

The two Shell execs believe we are no laggards compared to our Asian neighbors, who may have the benefit of greater wealth and emphasis on the teaching of science and technology. “As far as our students’ talents go, they are at par,” said Suarez.
In fact, we are able to spend our resources more wisely.”

But he digressed. “There’s one thing where we best them all: we have Filipino spirit of camaraderie. The Pinoys are quite good in relating to other nationalities. We’ve seen that the kids are very open to helping out other teams. They lend out tools and parts, and even help them tinker with their machines. I think that’s inherent in Filipinos—the willingness to help.”

I can’t wait for the curtains to open on the Shell Eco-marathon Asia’s Philippine edition—which will be prominently staged at Luneta no less (with the assent of both the Manila city government and the Department of Tourism). “We’ve had enthusiastic support for our teams even if they are fielded overseas,” shared Nebrida. “Can you imagine when it’s held here?”

That’s certainly something to be happy about—aside from a brand-new year, of course.