Shell’s Hyper-Mileage Contest Coming to Detroit

Next month Detroit will host this year's edition of the Shell Eco-marathon Americas competition, featuring ultra-efficient one-of-a-kind cars designed and built by high school and college students.

The contest will be headquartered at Cobo Center April 10-12. More than 100 schools and 144 teams will convene to test their cars on a 0.9-mile loop through the streets of downtown Detroit. Entries will compete in several categories and with vehicles fueled by gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, fuel cells and batteries.

The public is invited to the three-day event, which includes presentations and interactive tech displays inside Cobo. Free tickets and further details are available at shellecomarathon.us.

Shell Oil Co. launched the high-mileage challenge informally in 1939, when the winner notched an impressive 50 mpg. Earlier this month Thai students at the Asian competition posted an all-time record 1,572 km/l (3,698 mpg) with an ethanol-powered one-seater on a street circuit in Manila.