Pleasanton Teens Drive Innovation to Indianapolis, Placing 8th at Shell Eco-Marathon

For most high schoolers, spring break means rest and relaxation. For fourteen students from Foothill High School, it meant racing a car they built themselves on one of the most competitive eco-engineering stages in North America.

From April 7–11, 2006, the Tri-Valley Eco Car Engineering (TEC) team traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, to compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas — a prestigious competition that challenges students to design, build, and drive the most fuel-efficient vehicle possible. The team was the first ever from FHS to compete in the event, and they did not just show up — they placed 8th in the Urban Concept, Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) category, competing alongside more seasoned high school programs and college engineering teams.

Building More Than a Car

The project began with a simple but urgent question: what can young people do right now to be part of solving the climate crisis?

Fuel consumption from transportation remains one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally. The Shell Eco-Marathon exists to push the boundaries of what's possible — challenging the next generation of engineers to rethink how far a vehicle can travel on the least amount of fuel. For the TEC team, the competition became a real-world laboratory to explore sustainable engineering principles and fuel efficiency solutions that go far beyond the classroom.

Starting From Zero

What makes the team's achievement all the more remarkable is that they built their vehicle entirely from the ground up — no pre-made kit, no blueprint handed down from a previous team. Every design decision, every weld, and every test run was the result of students figuring things out for the very first time, guided by their technical mentor, Niklas Janetzky, whose expertise and encouragement were instrumental in getting the car from concept to competition.

The road wasn't without its bumps. The team encountered mechanical setbacks, design challenges, and the steep learning curve that comes with turning raw materials into a functioning, competition-ready vehicle. Balancing the project alongside academics and other commitments tested the students' resilience as much as their engineering skills. But they persevered — and they finished.

A Result to Be Proud Of

Placing in their very first Shell Eco-Marathon is a remarkable debut for any team, let alone a group of high schoolers building their first car from scratch. The team hopes their debut is just the beginning. With a year of hard-won experience now under their belts, they're already looking ahead — to a stronger car, a stronger result, and a legacy that inspires future students across the Tri-Valley to take on challenges just as bold.

TEC extends heartfelt thanks to technical mentor Niklas Janetzky, as well as to the families and supporters in the Pleasanton community whose encouragement made this journey possible.

TEC members (alphabetical order by last name): Ishaan Agarwal, Marcos Aldaz, Sushant Indupuru, Wenhao Ji, Sanika Khedkar, Brandon Kong, Joseph Krill, Makayla Lin, Natalia Lo, Jake Nguyen, Laksh Sharma, Yiheng Song, Harini Solaimalai, Aarush Thilak.