HOUSTON – Shell Lubricants is pleased to announce the Shell Truck Design Challenge, a contest bringing the innovation of Class 8 truck design to some of the brightest minds of the future. The contest challenges students to design the interior of a prototype Class 8 truck.

Shell Eco-Marathon participants, as well as high school and college students in Michigan, can register for the chance to win $1,000 for their school.

The contest is inspired by the Shell Eco-marathon Americas, which challenges student teams to design, build and drive the most energy-efficient vehicle, as well as the AirFlow StarShip Initiative.

A joint project between Shell Lubricants and AirFlow Truck Company, the AirFlow StarShip will feature a completely new design with the aim of breaking current fuel efficiency records for Class 8 trucks after its debut in 2017. Combining these two concepts presents the youth of the Americas with a unique opportunity to make an impact on the trucking industry.

 “This contest is a great opportunity for next generation technology leaders to leave a lasting effect on the betterment of the trucking industry and to push technology, comfort and safety to the next level for the foreseeable future,” said Kate Faucher, global marketing projects lead for Shell Lubricants.

“Working in tandem with the AirFlow project will allow students to gain a working knowledge of industry development and hopefully spark a passion that will inspire generations to come.”

While much attention is given to the exterior design of a vehicle, the interior design and function are equally important with the rapidly increasing integration of technology into current and future mobility. Entries are evaluated on relevance to the design element, design value and quality, concept originality and developmental potential, as well as the following criteria:

  • Connectedness: The design must provide a connected environment that offers a technological platform that can provide consistent, interoperable and safe operations for all users. Elements to consider for integration include telematics, music, media, entertainment, GPS and more.
  • Safety: The design must demonstrate that proper safety has been integrated so that it meets current safety requirements. This includes seat belts, mirrors, airbags, etc. The use of connected devices and technology must include safety as a consideration to ensure that they do not distract the drier while operating the vehicle on the road.
  • Fuel Economy: Develop ways to monitor and increase fuel economy. This can include autonomous driving systems, ways to help the driver alter their driving style to achieve maximum fuel mileage, monitoring of engine and transmission functions, tire pressure and more.
  • Ergonomics: Design a truck interior that is suitable for driving on highways for long distances. Considerations should include comfort so as to minimize fatigue over a long drive. This includes seating, layout of the interior for easy intuitive use by the operator, integration/use of devices such as smart phones and more. The design can also include an optional living area for the driver.

Student entries will have to connect to at least one and up to all four of the design criteria – connectedness, safety, fuel economy and ergonomics. To enter, students must submit renderings, drawings or sketches showing interior design from several perspectives, with one illustrating a person and their expected driving environment.

Additional deliverables include a brief essay about how the design element provides the operator of a Class 8 truck with simple, functional and safe mobility. Entries will be evaluated on the following criteria: relevance to the design element, design value and quality, concept originality and developmental potential.

The Shell Truck Design Challenge kicks off March 8 and runs through April 18, 2016. Winning design creators or teams in each of the four categories will be announced at the Shell Eco-Marathon in Detroit in April. For official rules and additional information about the contest, please visit www.ROTELLA.com

About Shell Lubricants

The term ‘Shell Lubricants’ collectively refers to the companies of Royal Dutch Shell plc that are engaged in the lubricants business. Shell Lubricants companies lead the lubricants industry, supplying more than 12 percent of global lubricants volume.

* The companies manufacture and blend products for use in consumer, heavy industrial and commercial transport applications. The Shell Lubricants portfolio of top-quality brands includes Pennzoil®, Quaker State®, FormulaShell®, Shell TELLUS®, Shell RIMULA®, Shell ROTELLA® T, Shell SPIRAX® and Jiffy Lube®.

*Kline & Company, “Global Lubricants Industry July 2015: Market Analysis and Assessment.”

About Shell Eco-marathon

Shell Eco-marathon is a global program that challenges high school and college student teams to design, build and test the most energy-efficient vehicles. With annual events in the Americas, Europe and Asia, this innovation competition pushes future scientists and engineers to travel the farthest distance using the least amount of energy. Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2016 will take place April 22nd - 24th on the streets of Downtown Detroit and is free and open to the public. Visit www.shellecomarathon.us to learn more about this weekend of free programs for all ages.

Media Inquiries: 

Shell Media Line - 713-241-4544

Notes of Editors

Cautionary Note:

The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release “Shell”, “Shell group” and “Royal Dutch Shell” are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them.

These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ‘‘Subsidiaries’’, “Shell subsidiaries” and “Shell companies” as used in this press release refer to companies in which Royal Dutch Shell either directly or indirectly has control, by having either a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise a controlling influence. The companies in which Shell has significant influence but not control are referred to as “associated companies” or “associates” and companies in which Shell has joint control are referred to as “jointly controlled entities”.

In this press release, associates and jointly controlled entities are also referred to as “equity-accounted investments”. The term “Shell interest” is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect (for example, through our 23% shareholding in Woodside Petroleum Ltd.) ownership interest held by Shell in a venture, partnership or company, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

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There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell’s products; (c) currency fluctuations;

(d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions;

(i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; and

(m) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Royal Dutch Shell’s 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov ). These factors also should be considered by the reader.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, November 3, 2015.

Neither Royal Dutch Shell nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

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