Over the last eight weeks, Pitch the Future has seen over 100 Shell Eco-marathon teams generate almost 300 innovative ideas in response to the four challenges. Ideas that can potentially help solve some of the most critical energy issues. After a difficult shortlisting process, it’s now time to see the pitches from the 13 incredible teams that made it to the final round.
For the first time, watch as they present their ideas virtually to a live panel of industry experts, in the quest to become the first ever global winners of Pitch the Future.
Duration: 1:52 minutes
A look at some of the ideas pitched by teams taking part in Pitch the Future, in their own words.
Pitch Highlights / English Transcript
[Background music plays]
Gentle synth music begins
[Video footage]
A slowly panning shot of Colin Furze standing in the middle of a workshop constructed out of timber, surrounded by tools and drawers. The Shell Pitch the Future Logo is printed on the rear wall and also displayed on a desktop computer behind.
[Colin Furze]
What do you get if you take the world’s brightest young minds and stuff them into a virtual shed? This is Pitch the Future.
[Background music plays]
A drum & bass rendition of the Shell theme emerges.
[Text displays]
Colin Furze
YouTuber and inventor
[Animated sequence]
Components of the Pitch the Future logo slide together. A yellow band with a central arc and a small aerodynamic vehicle sitting along it, caps a blue/green central area where the text and Shell pecten appear. A white band with a central shallower arc underneath underlines the central area, and a similar small vehicle sits along it.
[Text displays]
Pitch The Future
#MakeTheFuture
#ShellEcoMarathon
[Animated sequence]
The animation slides upwards to reveal a similar design seen from a different angle and higher up. The blue-green area is now much wider, and more 3D concentric coloured bands supporting other small vehicles are visible either side of it. This image serves as a thematic background for all subsequent webcam footage. Three headings in stylised animated text underneath a Shell pecten appear in sequence over the central area, the numbers appearing as if drawn by an architect. After each one, the whole animation slides quickly downwards before continuing with the background unchanged, as if changing slides. The whole animation slides quickly upwards.
[Text displays]
292 Ideas
132 Teams
4 Challenges
[Video footage]
Colin speaking to camera in the workshop. A close-up of him pointing to camera.
[Colin Furze]
Your 15 minutes starts now.
[Video footage]
Four screens of sets of team members via individual webcams, featuring three, four, four then three at a time, many waving and smiling.
[Animated sequence]
The screen slides to the right, revealing a red gyrating disc set in a sunken hole on a platform with the edge of a large blue cog rotating on the right side. An arrow extends from the disc and turns 90 degrees before quickly disappearing to the left. Text Lies in two parallel and perpendicular lines in front of the disc with the Microsoft logo beneath.
[Text displays]
Tracking and Reducing CO2 Emissions With Microsoft
[Video footage]
Four team members appear via webcam along the bottom of the screen, while the larger part is taken up by a screen feed of a “Cero” logo with a mouse pointer hovering above. One team member speaks as the others listen.
[Graphic displays]
Two irregular, interlocking grey rectangles at a skewed angle, contain the word “Cero” in white letters. The “R” is grey with a leaf over its eye, and a green frame around it, a dripping nozzle extending from the top.
[Animated Sequence]
On a green background, a simplified cell phone on the right displays an app’s user profile with a picture, name and three options. The first option has a picture of car, the second, coloured arrows in a circle, and the third, ascending bars, the highest as an arrow, with a dollar sign overlaid.
[Text displays]
Jose
View Profile
New Trip
My Drive Cycles
Rewards
[Animated Sequence]
A darker green rectangle emerges from the phone and enlarges to fit the left side of the screen. Four text boxes appear within it, the amounts/measures enlarged.
[Text displays]
5 km Total Distance Traveled
650 g Total CO2 Emissions
Your Caron Emissions Decreased by 5% Great Job!!!
You Saved $290
[Team Member 1]
Cero uses fuel savings to encourage users to drive more efficiently.
[Video footage]
Two team members appear via webcam along the bottom of the screen, one listening as the other speaks.
[Graphic displays]
The larger part of the screen is taken up by a graphic of stylised black and white cityscape with a road, some cars and a few trees in the foreground. A translucent green square overlies the left side, with an offset black-line square, and a further offset solid white square containing the “E-Coach” logo in a pale grey cloud on a road.
[Animated Sequence]
Following a red car as it travels along a road at the bottom of the screen with grey mountains in the background and a blue sky with a few clouds. A speech bubble containing three smartphones hangs above it.
[Team Member 2]
E-Coach is, essentially, a GPS device to monitor and, ultimately, improve fuel efficiency.
[Video footage]
Five professionals appear via webcams, their names and titles displayed in the bottom-left corners of their screens. Dean speaks as the others listen.
[Text displays]
Norman Koch, Global General Manager, Shell Eco-Marathon, Shell
Gareth Dunsmore VP Brand and Customer Experience at Nissan, Nissan
Americo de Campos Silva, Global Head of Integrated Brand & Communications, Shell
Christina Mallon, Global Head of Inclusive Design and Digital Accessibility, WPP
Alex Robart, Energy Industry Strategy Leader, Microsoft
[Alex Robart]
I do think, in a lot of ways, this is a simpler approach that’s executable.
[Video footage]
Colin speaking to camera in the workshop.
[Colin Furze]
Excellent. Well done, team.
[Animated Sequence]
The same gyrating red disk sits in the middle of an array of small square, rectangular and triangular platforms in muted tones of yellow, blue and grey, some with circular recesses, all rising and falling in an undulating wave motion. Two lines of text hang perpendicular to the top surfaces of the shapes.
[Text displays]
Electric Vehicle and Battery Charging
[Video footage]
Two team members appear via webcam along the bottom of the screen, one listening as the other speaks.
[Graphic displays]
A white rectangle with a square in the centre displaying a road with two pinpoint markers connected by a cable with a plug on one end. The “idea” is typed out in real time underneath.
[Text displays]
The Idea
CharGo
Optimise for a lifetime, not just for a journey.
[Team Member 3]
Our idea, in one sentence, is, Optimise for a lifetime, not just for a journey.
[Animated Sequence]
A smartphone displaying the EcoTrip app lies on top of an unfolded map depicting large simplified roads and roundabouts. A graphic of a winding road with pinpoint markers dotted along it serves as the app background as a white circle emerges in the centre, containing an icon of a cable wrapped around the inner edge, connected to a plug in the centre. Once fully enlarged, a second white circle emerges from its centre, containing a CO2 symbol with leaves attached. The screen fades to a close-up of the winding road graphic, scanning downwards over it.
[Video footage]
Four team members appear via webcam along the bottom of the screen, one speaking as the others listen.
[Graphic displays]
A dark blue rectangle with some decorative diagonal orange rectangular graphics in the corners contains white and orange text in headings and bullet points over an orange icon of a hand holding a small plant.
[Text displays]
Ecotrip
User in Charge
Speed
Efficiency
Sustainability
Ideal for Long Distance Travels
Data Required
Charging Points
Range
CO2 Emissions
[Team Member 4]
EcoTrip is an improved GPS specially made for electric vehicles’ owners. The impact of our app is more visible in long-distance travels.
[Video footage]
Six professionals appear via webcams, all with their names and titles displayed in the bottom left of their windows. Norman speaks as the other five listen.
[Text displays]
Norman Koch, Global General Manager, Shell Eco-Marathon, Shell
Joerg Wienke, Vice President, Global Retail Marketing, Shell
Tommaso Volpe, Global Motorsport Director, Nissan and Infiniti, Nissan
Dean Aragon, Shell Global VP Brand, Shell
Christina Mallon, Global Head of Inclusive Design and Digital Accessibility, WPP
Michael Parkes, E-Mobility Application Project Lead, Shell
[Norman Koch]
Thank you very much, Sir, for your inspiring presentation.
[Graphic displays]
A still image of the red disk in a sunken platform, partially inset in a raised platform, upon which lies two lines of text and the Shell Lubricants.
[Text displays]
Decarbonising Road Freight Transport
Shell Lubricants
[Video footage]
Three team members appear view webcams along the bottom of the screen, two listening as one speaks.
[Graphic displays]
Inside a white rectangle is a main heading and three symbols: a bottle with a “CO2” label, a cloud with “CO2” in, and a leaf surrounded by two counter clockwise arrows, under which three dotted-line rectangles containing headings and bullet points are connected by right-pointing arrows. Underneath is a line of words and phrases, each in an interlocking arrow-shaped text box pointing to the right.
[Text displays]
Road-map
Capturing
Emitted carbon will be captured directly from exhaust manifold
Capturing will be done using the material fumed silica
Regeneration
Regeneration of captured/absorbed carbon will take place
Various centers will be established for regeneration process
Utilization
Regenerated carbon will be utilized in order to create useful products
Possible products can be carbon cement, synthetic fuels, carbon fibre, carbon nanotubes and bio plastics, etc
Problem
Logistics
Carbon Capturing
Vehicle Efficiency
Cherry on Cake
[Team Member 5]
So, this part of the idea created by us is, basically, divided in three simple steps. First is capturing, second is regeneration, and third is utilisation.
[Graphic displays]
A picture of a smartphone displaying the login page of the Apollo app appears next to a heading on a white background. The Eco Octano logo is in the bottom right corner and a symbol representing some form of artificial neural network next to a number 2 is in the top right corner.
[Text displays]
The Application
Password
Forgot your password?
Sign in
Do not have an account? Create account.
[Graphic displays]
The screen on the phone changes to a blurry blue-filtered photo in the background with four boxes containing menu options and icons: a pinpoint marker, followed by a cross, a knife and fork, and a tooth, then a calendar, and lastly a telephone.
[Text displays]
Apollo
Near Unity
Services
Scheduling Services
Emergency call
[Video footage]
Three team members appear via webcams along the bottom of the screen, one speaking, the others listening.
[Graphic displays]
A blue rectangle contains text and the Eco Octano logo at the bottom.
[Text displays]
A Basic Transport Management AI Manual
Eco Octano
[Team Member 5]
Our system is an artificial intelligence program with a goal of making cheaper and cleaner transport fuels.
[Video footage]
Four professionals appear via webcams, all with their names and titles displayed in the bottom left of their windows. Shini speaks as the other three listen.
[Text displays]
Norman Koch, Global General Manager, Shell Eco-Marathon, Shell
Mansi Tripathy, Vice President Commercial Lubricants Apme, Shell
Americo de Campos Silva, Global Head of Integrated Brand & Communications, Shell
Shini Somara, TV Broadcaster, Children’s Book Author and Mechanical Engineer, Influencer
[Shini Somara]
Thank you so much, guys. That was an absolutely brilliant presentation.
[Video footage]
Colin Furze speaking to camera, giving a double thumbs-up in the workshop.
[Colin Furze]
Absolutely fantastic.
[Animated sequence]
The footage of Colin blurs and slides to the right to reveal more blue, yellow and grey interlocking cogs and platforms, the red gyrating disk near the top. Two lines of text stand perpendicular to the centremost platform, and the Shell Energy logo is printed on its side.
[Text displays]
Decarbonising the Home
Shell Energy
[Video footage]
Three team members appear via webcams along the bottom of the screen, the larger part taken up by a live demonstration of the team’s app’s user interface.
[Animated Sequence]
The first screen of the team’s demonstration has three illustrations under the words “Our Idea”: two people either side of a question mark, a line of houses, and a man in a hard hat looking at a document. The second has a list of menu items along the top, the “Home” option underlined and an illustration of a man in front of residential buildings next to an interactive button. On the next screen, “Build” is underlined at the top above a dropdown geographical menu. The next screen consists of a materials list.
[Text displays]
Our Idea
Home
Build
Tips & Idea
Advantages
News
Greenhouse
Click Below To Get Started
Let’s Build!
Please select the materials from the list:
Clay roof tiles
Timber
Ceramic brick
Cement
Ceramic floor tiles
PVC pipes
PVA paint, Acrylic Paint and Synthetic Polish
Sand
Aggregates
[Team Member 6]
Our idea consists of a website that helps to make smart decisions of the house you are going to build.
[Graphic displays]
On a black background, a house is centred, under which a pair of hands holds a tablet displaying four different coloured circles. Two headings either side, each above three circles containing icons. Clockwise, they are a television, washing machine and fridge; a piggy bank, upward trending arrow with dollar coin and dollar coin falling into an open hand; a plug connected by cable to an energy symbol, solar PV panel under the Sun and illuminated bulb; a CO2 symbol in a cloud, plug connected by cable to a leaf, and the Earth with a vine growing around it.
[Text displays]
The status of each smart device and their settings
Spare money derived from investment
Average consumption data
Amount of CO2 avoided
[Video footage]
Four team members appear via webcams along the bottom of the screen, the larger part taken up by a two graphics in sequence. Three team members listen as one speaks.
[Graphic displays]
On a black background, a house constructed of four different-coloured jigsaw pieces is centred, each piece connected by a dotted line of corresponding colour to a heading in each corner.
[Text displays]
Attractiveness To The User
Immediately Feasible
Constant Tracking
Constant Feedback
[Graphic displays]
On a black background, a circle on the left contains blue and orange text and a house symbol with a panel on one side of the roof. The letters “C” and “O” are enlarged, the latter doubling as a Sun symbol.
[Text displays]
Carbon Out 2gether
Control system manages energy in an efficient way.
[Team Member 7]
So, our solution, as its core business, is a control system that manages energy in an efficient way.
[Video footage]
Five professionals appear via webcams, each with their name and title in the bottom left of their window, four listening as Dean speaks.
[Text displays]
Norman Koch, Global General Manager, Shell Eco-Marathon, Shell
Colin Crooks, CEO at Shell Energy, Shell Energy
Dean Aragon, Shell Global VP Brand, Shell
Elvin Nagamootoo, Head of Product, Shell Energy, Shell
Shini Somara, TV Broadcaster, Children’s Book Author and Mechanical Engineer, Influencer
[Dean Aragon]
I think, this is worth pursuing in the marketplace.
[Video footage]
Colin, with arms outstretched, speaking to camera in the workshop.
[Colin Furze]
Excellent work, students.
[Video footage]
Norman, Colin, Dean, Elvin and Shini smiling and/or giving a thumbs-up via their webcams. A close-up of Colin speaking to camera in the workshop.
[Colin Furze]
Eight weeks of competition, and 13 amazing pitches.
[Video footage]
Four sets of four webcams featuring team members, some smiling/waving/giving a thumbs-up. A panning shot of Colin speaking to camera in the workshop.
[Colin Furze]
To watch the full pitches and judges’ responses, you can find them on the link below.
[Animated sequence]
Components of the Pitch the Future logo slide together. A yellow band with a central arc and a small aerodynamic vehicle sitting along it, caps a blue/green central area where the text and Shell pecten appear. A white band with a central shallower arc underneath underlines the central area, and a similar small vehicle sits along it.
[Text displays]
Pitch The Future
#MakeTheFuture
#ShellEcoMarathon
[Background music plays]
The Shell jingle on piano.
[Graphic displays]
The Shell pecten on a white background.
[Text displays]
© Shell International Limited 2020
Watch the full pitch session for Decarbonising the Home with Shell Energy here:
Watch the full pitch session for Tracking and Reducing CO2 Emissions from Vehicles with Microsoft here:
Watch the full pitch session for Decarbonising Road Freight Transport with Shell Lubricants here:
Watch the full pitch session for Electric Vehicles and Long Distance Travels with Shell Recharge here:
Watch the pitch highlights of 13 incredible teams as they present their brilliant ideas virtually to a panel of industry experts.