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Students from UFMG achieve historic victory in the USA by reaching 469.7 km/kWh with innovative electric prototype.
A group of students from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) achieved an unprecedented feat by winning the Shell Eco-marathon United States, held from April 7 to 11 in Indianapolis. The Milhagem UFMG team surpassed competitors from various countries by developing a highly efficient electric vehicle. The goal of the competition was simple yet challenging: to cover the greatest distance possible with the least energy consumption.
The victory represents a milestone not only for UFMG but also for Latin America, which had never reached the top of this competition. Furthermore, the impressive performance drew attention due to the significant advantage over other participants.
Performance of UFMG students impresses with record efficiency
The prototype developed by UFMG students achieved a mark of 469.7 km/kWh. This number represents a difference of about 40 km/kWh compared to the second place, consolidating the team’s leadership.
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In total, the competition brought together 77 teams and over 750 students from countries such as Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. Therefore, the result reinforces the high technical level of the Brazilian project in a highly competitive global scenario.
In addition to the trophy, the students secured a prize of $3,000, recognition that further values the work developed.
History of UFMG reinforces tradition of excellence among students
The international achievement did not happen by chance. In August 2025, UFMG students had already won the Shell Eco-marathon Brazil, held in Rio de Janeiro.
This was the team’s fourth victory in the South American competition. Check out the recent history:
- 2018 – First title
- 2022 – Second achievement
- 2023 – Third victory
- 2025 – Fourth title
Thus, the consistent performance shows the continuous evolution of the project over the years.
UFMG Project Brings Together Students from Different Engineering Fields
Created in 2005, Milhagem UFMG consists of about 30 students from various courses. Among them are Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Control and Automation.
This diversity allows for a multidisciplinary approach in the development of prototypes. As a result, students are able to create more efficient and innovative solutions.
Meanwhile, the main focus remains clear: to build vehicles capable of traveling long distances with minimal energy consumption.
The success of UFMG students highlights the advancement of applied research in Brazil. Furthermore, it shows how academic projects can have a real impact on technological development.
On the other hand, this achievement also inspires new students to join similar initiatives. In this way, UFMG strengthens its role as a reference in innovation and talent development.
Source: UFMG
