Brazilian team reaches historic milestone in Indianapolis at the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas 2026
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The participation of the Cataratas Energy Efficiency Group (GCEE) in the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas 2026 is already establishing itself as one of the most emblematic trajectories of Brazilian student engineering on the international stage. At the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the team from Paraná transformed logistical challenges and rigorous technical requirements into a performance that combines resilience, precision, and technological innovation.
Technical rigor and cutting-edge engineering mark unprecedented progress with a hydrogen-powered vehicle
Throughout the first days of competition, the GCEE went through a journey of high operational intensity: from the detailed preparation of the prototype after international transport to facing the demanding technical inspection of the organization. The turning point came with full approval — 10 out of 10 criteria met — a rare feat that positions the group as the second in the Urban Concept category powered by hydrogen to achieve such a result in this edition and, even more significantly, as the only representative from Latin America to overcome this stage.
The performance demonstrates not only the technical maturity of the project, but also its ability to execute under international standards of safety and efficiency. With the approval for track testing, the challenge now shifts to achieving competitive energy efficiency ratings, a step that could definitively consolidate Brazil's leading role in one of the most relevant global platforms for innovation in sustainable mobility.
Watch the video of Brazil's participation in the event:
Patrocinadores:
XBRI Pneus, Itaipu Binacional, Itaipu Parquetec, UNIOESTE e SETI - Secretaria da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior do Paraná
Copatrocinadores e Apoiadores:
H2Helium, Ponte Nova Energia, 3Di Biogás, Swagelok Daquetti Inox, UNILA, Funder, Fundação Araucária, Horizon, Leser, Altair Cycles, Receita Federal do Brasil, LabMaker Iguaçu e Lablat
