UAE students vie to build most fuel-efficient car in Shell eco-marathon

The eco-marathon will take part in Kuala Lumpur in July, and students from the UAE will represent one of five universities taking part.

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DUBAI // Five universities are taking part in an international competition to build a more fuel-efficient car.

It is the second time the UAE has participated in the "eco-marathon", in which designer cars are tested to see how many kilometres they can drive on one litre of fuel. The record is held by students from Polytech Nantes in France, whose car travelled nearly 4,900km.

Entrants are required to design and build the cars on campus.

"Providing UAE nationals with an opportunity to apply their engineering skills to conceptualise and produce energy-efficient cars encourages understanding about the future of innovation and smarter mobility," said John Barry of Shell, the competition's sponsors.

"These students will be given the opportunity to apply the skills gained through this programme to the development of their country and become future contributors to the economy of the UAE."

The Higher Colleges of Technology's Abu Dhabi Men's College took part in last year's Asian leg of the event in Malaysia, and will re-enter this year. They will be joined by HCT's Dubai Men's College, Al Ruwais College, the American University of Sharjah and American University of Dubai.

The event will be held from July 4 to 7 in Kuala Lumpur.