Green Team Twente started in the academic year 2011-2012 as an initiative of W.S.G. Isaac Newton, the study of mechanical engineering at the University of Twente. They started the project to show the world that hydrogen is a viable alternative to fossil fuels. In the following years, each year a new team was formed with members from different studies and not only mechanical engineers.

This year’s team focused their work on reliability and continuous improvement. The expectations were high for the second edition in London of the Shell Eco-marathon, because of the chassis based on the former H2Zero and some other new systems. We created a special PCB design on the body to give a car a nice face. This design stands for innovation and we brought it with a fully integrated dashboard on the steering wheel, a new ultra-efficient gearbox, an electronically managed clutch system and a real-time data system in the cloud.

At the day of the Shell Eco-marathon, things were running smooth. We passed as the first hydrogen team the technical inspection. This was a good start, because this results in more test runs. Unfortunately we needed the extra time because the optimal set up was not reached, yet. After three days hard work, it all came to the second race day. Everything had to run perfectly in order to set an ultra-efficient stint and we managed to do so! We were the best in our class and that resulted in winning the first place and having the most fuel efficient hydrogen car of Europe in 2017!

We became World Champion! With not one, not two, but three trophies, our team came back to Enschede after the Shell Eco-Marathon of 2019. In our year, we focussed on making the car more reliable and improving it wherever possible. We took the lessons from team 18 and made the car our own.

By redesigning the drivetrain and electrical components, but also by significantly improving the cooling system of the fuel cell and the strategy for the race itself, we managed to bring the car to world level. Apart from this, we devised an extensive communication strategy to bring hydrogen and our team to the next level. We set up a project with the University of Twente to put a sustainable tiny house community on campus.

Furthermore, we put more emphasis on education by making educational videos and going to schools and events to give guest lectures. By also competing in the Challenger Event, we gave ourselves the chance to work out any kinks in the cable and to get the first official test round before the real Shell Eco-Marathon. 

This team expanded on the work of the team before it. A new fuel cell was put in the car, and the electronic systems were upgraded and the latest software was installed. Mechanical components were optimised in order to make them simpler and lighter. This weight loss, in combination with the improvement of the overall electronics in the car, made it even more efficient than it was at the beginning of the year.

Another aspect the team made steps in is education; they gave online lectures to schools, and, for the first time, an exhibit about Green Team was held at the Museumfabriek. Next to that, a documentary about hydrogen was made.