News

From 24–28 June 2026, the Shell Eco-marathon Europe & Africa 2026 took place in Kamień Śląski, Poland. The event brought together 148 university and high school teams from 28 countries, competing with self-designed and self-built vehicles for the title of the most energy-efficient vehicle—one that consumes the least energy or fuel.

Lublin University of Technology was represented by the Hydrogreen Team, which entered two hydrogen-powered vehicles: Hydros in the Prototype category and Hydra in the Urban Concept category. The team was one of only seven Polish teams competing in this year's competition.

This year's event presented competitors with not only technical challenges but also extreme weather conditions. A severe heatwave, during which air temperatures reached 40°C in the shade and track temperatures climbed to 75°C, proved challenging for both participants and their vehicles. Many teams—particularly those competing with hydrogen-powered vehicles—were unable to cope with these conditions and failed to complete the required race distance. Unfortunately, this was also the case for Hydra. Despite numerous attempts to solve the problem, including several unconventional, solutions the fuel cell consistently overheated after just three laps, forcing the vehicle to stop.

Hydros fared much better. Four successful runs resulted in the team's best performance of 303 km per cubic meter of hydrogen, earning the team an excellent 6th place finish.

The Hydrogreen Team POLLUB from Lublin was also honored with the Spirit of Shell Eco-marathon Award—a distinction voted for by fellow participants in recognition of teamwork, support, and outstanding sportsmanship. This award is a tremendous honor, especially because it was based on nominations from other teams, who recognized our willingness to help many competitors prepare their vehicles, assist them in solving technical problems, and foster an atmosphere of cooperation, mutual support, and creating a friendly and collaborative atmosphere throughout the event.