Unioeste students' hydrogen-powered car to compete in Shell Eco-Marathon in the US

The team from the Cataratas Energy Efficiency Group (GCEE), linked to the Center for Engineering and Exact Sciences (CECE) at the State University of Western Paraná (Unioeste), is about to represent Brazil in one of the most prestigious energy efficiency challenges in the world. With a car powered by green hydrogen produced at Itaipu Parquetec, the students will head to Indianapolis, in the United States, to compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas 2025, in the Urban Concept category.

Technology and pioneering in sustainable motorsport

The participation of the team from Paraná marks a historic moment for Latin America. In 2024, GCEE became the first team in the region to pass rigorous technical inspections and put a hydrogen-powered urban concept vehicle on the track. The car's performance impressed engineers and technicians, ensuring it was invited to the North American competition.

The challenge proposed by Shell Eco-Marathon involves covering a 16-kilometer route in 35 minutes on the legendary Indianapolis track. Unlike the Brazilian leg, held at Pier Mauá (RJ), the route in the USA requires greater endurance and efficiency from the vehicles, with four laps of approximately four kilometers each, including two stops per lap.

Determination and expectations for international competition

The team, made up of 12 students, will be accompanied by professors Fernando Gaiotto and Antonio Marcos Massao Hachisuca. The team captain and mechanical engineering student, Giulia Demarchi, highlights the group's motivation.

Created over 15 years ago, GCEE began as an initiative of electrical and mechanical engineering students and later expanded to include computer science students.

With a history of dedication and technological advances, the Unioeste team is bringing to Indianapolis not only a highly efficient car, but also the hope of reaffirming the capacity of Brazilian university research in the global scenario of sustainable mobility.