The first participation in the Shell Eco-marathon brought the Green Gliders team valuable experience not only with the race itself, but also with the development and operation of the car in the demanding conditions of international competition. These became the basis for the development of a new generation of the vehicle, with which they are now heading to Poland. During their first participation, the team achieved a result of 171 kilometers per 1 kWh of electric energy, which corresponds to the approximate distance between Prague and Český Krumlov. This year, the students have set an even more ambitious goal. Thanks to the new car and a number of technical improvements, they want to significantly advance their current performance and get closer to double the value achieved during their premiere.
“Last year’s participation showed us what worked and where we have room for improvement. Thanks to the experience gained, we were able to design a practically new vehicle that is lighter, more efficient and more technologically advanced. Our goal is to move significantly further than during our first participation and show that the team from CTU can withstand strong international competition,” says Illia Melnyk, head of the Green Gliders team.
The Green Gliders team will compete in the Shell Eco-marathon Poland 2026, one of the most important student competitions focused on energy efficiency. The task of the teams is to cover the longest distance with the lowest energy consumption. The Green Gliders are competing in the Prototype category, which brings together extremely light and aerodynamic vehicles designed exclusively to achieve maximum energy efficiency.
For this year's competition, the students developed a new car that brings a number of design and technological changes. They switched from a self-supporting structure to a frame structure, which has reduced the weight by approximately half and improved aerodynamics. The car is equipped with a new battery, its own battery management system and a new 2 kW electric motor, which weighs only 400 grams compared to about six kilograms for the previous model. Telemetry has also been significantly improved, which allows online data collection and sharing with the driver and helps optimize driving strategy directly during the race. Carbon steering and chassis elements and lightweight components made using 3D printing also contribute to weight reduction. Safety features that meet strict racing standards, including six-point harnesses, certified helmets and overalls, are a matter of course.
“Shell Eco-marathon offers students much more than just the opportunity to race. It teaches them to work in a team, look for innovative solutions, overcome technical obstacles and gain experience that they will use in their professional careers. That is why we are pleased that the Green Gliders team from the Czech Technical University in Prague is continuing its project, coming up with a new generation of car and will once again represent the Czech Republic in strong international competition,” says Jana Voštinárová, Director of Corporate Communications at Shell Czech Republic.
This year, almost 120 teams from 25 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East will participate in the European final of the Shell Eco-marathon. They will compete with electric, hydrogen and combustion-powered vehicles. The competition is traditionally extremely strong. The best team in the battery-powered prototype category achieved a performance of 1,221 kilometers per 1 kWh of electricity last year. The winning team came from France. This year also brings a significant novelty. For the first time, the results of regional competitions are included in the qualification for the new Shell Eco-marathon Global Championship, which will take place in 2027 in Doha, Qatar. This gives the competition another dimension and opens the way for students to the global stage.
The Green Gliders team is partnered with the Faculty of Transport Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague. The project is also supported by Škoda Auto, Gebrüder Weiss, the Department of Transport Equipment, the Faculty of Transport Engineering, the Department of Mechanics and Materials, the Faculty of Transport Engineering, the Czech Technical University in Prague, Valeo, the Secondary Technical School of Transport Engineering in Motol, TÜV SÜD, Shameless, TechSoft, Cykloservis Bareš, Havel Composites, Rohde & Schwarz, Ansys and Zavodniauta.cz.