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How Students Are Revolutionizing the Shell Eco-Marathon with Horizon’s Fuel Cell Technology

What is the Shell Eco-Marathon?

The Shell Eco-Marathon is one of the world’s most innovative STEM competitions, where student teams from around the globe design, build, and drive ultra-energy-efficient vehicles. The goal? To travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. It’s not just a race—it’s a real-world engineering challenge that promotes creativity, sustainability, and cutting-edge technology.

With categories for both internal combustion engines and zero-emission vehicles, the competition provides a platform for young engineers to explore clean energy solutions. And hydrogen is taking the spotlight—especially with the growing popularity of Shell Eco-Marathon fuel cell vehicles.

Horizon Fuel Cells: Powering the Future of Student Innovation

Horizon Educational has been at the forefront of clean energy education, providing student teams with hydrogen fuel cell stacks that transform their classroom knowledge into real-world impact.

Here are two inspiring examples of how students used Horizon’s technology to take on the Shell Eco-Marathon challenge:

Brazilian Engineering Students: Small Team, Big Innovation

In Brazil, a university team built their Shell Eco-Marathon entry using the Horizon H-1000 fuel cell stack, a high-performance hydrogen system tailored for student-built vehicles.

Despite having limited resources, this team displayed incredible ingenuity. With the H-1000 stack at the core of their vehicle, they aimed to compete in the Urban Concept category, where real-world drivability and energy efficiency are tested together. This project not only helped the team gain hands-on hydrogen fuel cell experience but also prepared them for future careers in sustainable engineering.

“The H-1000 fuel cell gave us the opportunity to work with real hydrogen technology, making our learning truly immersive,” said one of the team members. Read More

High School Team Wins Big with Horizon Fuel Cell

A high school team in the U.S. made headlines by not just participating—but winning—the Shell Eco-Marathon’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell category. How? With the help of a Horizon fuel cell system.

These students designed a lightweight, aerodynamic vehicle and integrated the Horizon fuel cell for efficient, emission-free power. The result: a first-place victory and national recognition. But beyond trophies, they walked away with a deep understanding of energy systems, teamwork, and engineering problem-solving.

“It’s one thing to learn about fuel cells in class. It’s another to build a car and win with one,” said the team’s lead engineer. Read Their Story

Why Choose a Fuel Cell for the Shell Eco-Marathon?

Here’s why more students are turning to Shell Eco-Marathon fuel cell solutions like those offered by Horizon:

Zero Emissions: Hydrogen fuel cells produce only water as a byproduct.
High Efficiency: Fuel cells can convert up to 60% of hydrogen’s energy into electricity.
Real-World Relevance: Working with fuel cells prepares students for careers in renewable energy, automotive design, and clean tech innovation.
Educational Value: Horizon’s systems come with curriculum support, making them ideal for both high school and university use.

FAQs: Shell Eco-Marathon Fuel Cell Vehicles

Q: What is a fuel cell vehicle?
A: A fuel cell vehicle uses hydrogen to produce electricity that powers an electric motor. It’s clean, efficient, and ideal for energy innovation competitions like the Shell Eco-Marathon.

Q: Can high school students compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon with fuel cells?
A: Absolutely! Many high school teams, like the winning U.S. team mentioned above, have successfully used Horizon’s fuel cells to build competitive vehicles.

Q: What makes Horizon fuel cells suitable for student projects?
A: Horizon Educational designs fuel cells specifically for educational use, with plug-and-play systems like the H-1000 stack, safety features, and compatibility with student-built vehicles.

Q: How do I get started with building a fuel cell vehicle?
A: Explore Horizon’s hydrogen fuel cell kits and contact their support team to find the right stack for your project.

Final Thoughts

The Shell Eco-Marathon isn’t just a race—it’s a movement toward sustainable transportation. Thanks to Horizon Educational’s Shell Eco-Marathon fuel cell technology, students across the world are proving that the future of clean energy is not only possible—it’s already here.