by Antonio Marcos Massao Hachisuca and Fernando José Gaiotto
The State University of Western Paraná, Unioeste, fulfills its mission with the vision of being a reference as a public university in the production and socialization of knowledge, committed to training professionals to act based on ethical principles for the exercise of citizenship. This University promotes several extension projects that help students in their scientific and technological training. One of them is the project "Development of Vehicle Prototypes for University Energy Efficiency Competitions", carried out by GCEE, the Cataratas Energy Efficiency Group, created in 2009 by students of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering courses at CECE, the Center for Engineering and Exact Sciences, in Foz do Iguaçu. The group's vision is to be a national reference in energy efficiency competitions, working in research and development in the sustainable sector, promoting the training of the team's academics.
In 2010, the group won 4th place in the Electric and Ethanol category at the MUEE (University Energy Efficiency Marathon). In 2011, also at the MUEE, it won 3rd place in the Electric category, 2nd place in the Gasoline category and reached 1st place in the Ethanol category, setting the record for that year with 736 km/l of ethanol. This achievement allowed it to participate in the 2012 Shell Eco Marathon in the United States , an international competition with an Ethanol-powered car, affectionately called "Ethanols" by the young researchers . The event took place from March 29 to April 1 on the streets of downtown Houston, the world's energy capital.
Gradually, the group's prototypes migrated to the electric vehicle prototype category, until in 2016, it came in 5th place in the electric category at the Shell Eco Marathon Brazil. Currently, the group's 2023/24 management is focused on building prototypes of electric vehicles, with lithium batteries and fuel cells, using renewable hydrogen, in order to maintain its good results in energy efficiency competitions, such as the Shell Eco Marathon Brazil.
The use of hydrogen as a fuel, H2, contributes to the environment in a sustainable way, since it is obtained through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy. This energy can be used in various sectors, including as fuel for vehicles. Figure 1 illustrates hydrogen and its context.
Figure 1 – Hydrogen as a sustainable fuel.
The adoption of cars powered by H2, more precisely, renewable hydrogen, brings significant environmental benefits, since they produce only water as a byproduct of the combustion reaction, making them completely free of direct emissions of atmospheric pollutants and contributing to the decarbonization of the fleet, i.e., zero carbon! Figure 2 illustrates some of the environmental benefits of cars powered by H2.
Figure 2 – Environmental benefits of H2-powered cars
Considered a major challenge today, the implementation of H2 in automobiles, even if gradual and sectoral, is undeniable. Its use presents contributions that meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as Good Health and Well-Being, Clean and Affordable Energy, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and Action against Global Climate Change, corresponding respectively to SDGs 3, 7, 9 and 13, as illustrated in Figure 3. These goals can be positively impacted, with a reduction in emissions of harmful air pollutants, improvement in air quality, use of cleaner and renewable energy sources, and reduction of climate change.
Figure 3 - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covered by the project.
Therefore, the use of renewable H2 represents a concrete action that stimulates innovation and the strengthening of a more sustainable automotive industry. In this context, the involvement of GCEE presents itself as an exponential initiative for scientific, technological, economic and social development, at a regional and/or Brazilian level. Figure 4 summarizes this representation of how the GCEE team connects with hydrogen fuel.
Figure 4 – How GCEE connects to H2.
GCEE management results 2023/24
The State University of Western Paraná (Unioeste) promotes several outreach projects, such as the Cataratas Energy Efficiency Group (GCEE), created in 2009 by Electrical and Mechanical Engineering students. GCEE seeks to be a reference in energy efficiency competitions and focuses on research in sustainability. The group has achieved several notable achievements over the years, such as some records in the University Energy Efficiency Marathon and participation in the Shell Eco Marathon in the USA in 2012. Our main goal in 2024 was to compete with a vehicle powered by renewable hydrogen in the Shell Eco-Marathon Brazil, using a PEM fuel cell, marketed by HORIZON.
In competition, the GCEE team achieved remarkable results during the Shell Eco-marathon Brazil 2024, held between August 27th and 30th at Pier Mauá, in Rio de Janeiro . This year, the team made history by competing for the first time in the Urban Concept category, using renewable hydrogen as an energy source; and it is with great pride that we can say that UNIOESTE is the first Brazilian University to have a prototype vehicle for university energy efficiency competitions, powered by H2. In addition, the team achieved a historic feat by becoming the first in Latin America to pass the technical inspections and put a hydrogen-powered urban concept vehicle on the competition track. Figure 5 shows the entire GCEE team at the time of passing the technical inspection. The event was attended by teams from 41 Higher Education Institutions in Latin America and from the very first day, the H2 prototype stole the show, catching the attention of the technical team and the organizers. Figure 6 illustrates the urban concept prototype forming the official photo with 5 other selected prototypes.
It is also worth mentioning that this is a project built by many hands, and that the team is sponsored by different public and private institutions, with emphasis on Itaipu Binacional; Government of the State of Paraná; Itaipu Parquetec; Unila . Co-sponsored by H2helium; XBri Pneus; FUNDEP; Horizon; Ponte Nova Energia; Enerluz and Pernambuco Fibras; and supported by: Altair Cycles and Correia Bikeletro; IdeiaTrix; Receita Federal do Brasil; LabMaker; and LabIoT.
Figure 5 – GCCE team after receiving the seal of approval in the technical inspection (Source: Author 2024)
Figure 6 – Aerial image of the six prototypes selected to compose the official photo of
Shell Eco_Marathon Brazil 2024 (Source: Author 2024)
The performance of this prototype impressed the engineers and technicians of the competition, leading to an invitation for the team to participate in the Shell Eco-marathon Americas, which will take place in April 2025 at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in the United States. We are motivated and hope to repeat the feat of the former members of 2012, when they competed in the USA, too.
We returned to Foz do Iguaçu happy to know that despite being a completely renewed team (2023/2024), GCEE brings to the media topics such as energy transition and fleet decarbonization for urban mobility, within an extension project. As previously mentioned, this is a multidisciplinary extension project, integrating teaching and research by promoting knowledge management, teamwork and practical application in real problems. It offers students an opportunity for significant learning in several areas of engineering and energy. After participating in the Shell Eco-Marathon 2024, we concluded that we are moving towards decarbonizing the economy and contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable energy matrix. Continuous improvements will be made in pursuit of the title of Americas Champion in the USA in 2025, in the Hydrogen category.
Since the Rio de Janeiro competition (end of September 2024), the life of GCEE and its members has become more hectic, interviews, events, presentations, etc., have become commonplace. Below are some links to the articles generated:
It is important to record a special thanks from GCEE to all our supporters, together we can go further.
Sponsors/Strategic Partners: Itaipu Binacional; Government of the State of Paraná; Itaipu Parquetec; Unila;
Sponsors: XBri Tires; H2helium; FUNDEP; Horizon; Ponte Nova Energia; Enerluz and Pernambuco Fibers.
Supporters: Altair Cycles and Correia Bikeletro; IdeiaTrix; Brazilian Federal Revenue Service; LabMaker; and LabIoT.
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The text above is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the position of the companies or entities to which they may be associated.
Antonio Marcos Massao Hachisuca holds a degree and a master's degree in Computer Science and a PhD from the State University of Western Paraná - UNIOESTE. He is currently a professor at UNIOESTE, Foz do Iguaçu campus and coordinator of GCEE. He has experience in the area of Computer Science, with an emphasis on Embedded Systems in Free Software, Computer Networks, IoTs, Smart Farm and Entrepreneurship.
Fernando José Gaiotto is an Electrical Engineer and holds a PhD in Condensed Matter Physics from the State University of Maringá – UEM. He is currently a professor at the State University of Western Paraná – UNIOESTE, Foz do Iguaçu campus, and deputy coordinator of GCEE. He conducts research in the areas of Embedded Electronic Systems; and Use of Hydrogen in Fuel Cells.
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