Shell Make The Future Live India 2019 Kicks Off In Bengaluru

The second edition of the Make the Future Live India 2019 featuring Shell Eco-marathon, kicked off at the Shell Technology Center, Bengaluru. The event was flagged off by B. S. Yediyurappa, Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka. The event was also attended by Mr T.M Vijay Bhaskar, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka and other senior bureaucrats. 

The inaugural ceremony witnessed participation from 24 student teams from across India, who are competing to see whose car goes the farthest using the least amount of energy. The winning teams of the competition stand to win a total of INR 22,00,000 in prize money across various categories. One of the world’s longest-running student competitions, Shell Eco-marathon is a global programme that challenges bright minds to design and build ultra-energy-efficient cars, and then put them to the test.

Hon. Chief Minister Yediyurappa said, “I’m extremely happy to be a part of Make the Future Live India 2019 organized at the Shell Technology Centre, Bengaluru. I hope that this event successfully showcases innovation and firsthand dialogue on alternative energy solutions. I thank you all for your commitment, partnership and continued cooperation for sustainable development. Together, we shall Make the Future of Karnataka and India better.”

Harry Brekelmans, Projects & Technology Director at Royal Dutch Shell said, “Bengaluru hosts one of our three global technology hubs which all focus on innovation. Make the Future Live is exactly about this; it’s about innovation, inspiration, dedication and determination which is defined by a ‘can-do’ attitude. This is precisely what we’re going to need to be able to solve some of the biggest problems that we’ll face in the future. I urge everyone to look out for some of the solutions to these problems on the track here at Make the Future.”

Now in its second year in India, the event challenges the students from India’s premier universities, to put their self-built energy-efficient vehicles through a detailed safety and technical inspection, before being allowed to compete on track under different categories. The student teams are competing in either of the two categories: Prototype – futuristic and highly aerodynamic vehicles – or UrbanConcept – vehicles that resemble today’s cars and run on battery. This year saw two teams participate in the UrbanConcept and 22 in the Prototype category. Students can compete in categories based on their selected energy source: Internal Combustion Engine (ICE): Gasoline, diesel, ethanol (biofuel); and battery electric power. 

Nitin Prasad, Chairman, Shell Companies in India, said, “As India witnesses rapid growth in the mobility space, there is need to preempt, identify and address the challenges that accompany the growth. We must be conscious that while we must grow, we must also provide mobility and mobility solutions for our people in a way that allows us to live long and healthy lives. It is also an immense source of pride for me to announce that this is the first time, we’re hosting the Shell Eco-marathon at a Shell campus. All the hard work that has gone into bringing this together only indicates what our country is capable of when we put our minds to it.“

As part of Make Future Live India, Shell hosted a business forum titled ‘Powering Progress Together. The forum engaged industry experts, academicians, and professionals from the auto industry who discussed the role of disruptive technology, changing consumer choices and government policy to meet growing mobility challenges. 

Entrepreneurs like Hemalatha Annamalai, Founder and CEO- Ampere Vehicles, Jitendra Apte, CEO, Co-Founder- igrenEnergi, Rahul Tongia, Fellow with Bookings India and Member, World Economic Forum, Aayushi Jain, Directorate of Policy and Government Partnerships, Bounce - addressed the audience about the solutions they have for the future of mobility. Their discussions focused on the coexistence of electric and petroleum vehicles, touched upon battery management systems in EVs and the growing need to make mobility accessible to all.

Make the Future Live India also showcased a variety of project demonstrations including Bitumen solutions, a special LNG fueled bus, the Mahindra Treo e-rickshaw, and a mobility led startup supported by Shell E4. There was also a special eye screening facility for the participants at the event in line with Shell’s #DriveSafeIndia initiative which aims to reach out to 365,000 commercial drivers by 2020 to help them see better and drive safer.