Cars of the future? Competition for most energy efficient gets underway in Germany

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The vehicle of the Lycee Saint Joseph (France) racing teamcompetes in the Shell Eco Marathon at the Lausitz Eurospeedway in Klettwitz May 26, 2011. Some 200 teams from 26 countries are competing in this year's edition of the Eco Marathon to determine who has built the most energy efficient vehicle.

John Macdougall / AFP - Getty Images

The vehicle of the Lycee Technique des Arts et Metiers (Luxemburg) racing team competes in the Shell Eco Marathon at the Lausitz Eurospeedway in Klettwitz May 26, 2011.

John Macdougall / AFP - Getty Images

Members of the Universidad Catolica San Antonio (Spain) racing team sit under the shade of their vehicle's solar panel as they wait for a technical inspection before competing in the Shell Eco Marathon at the Lausitz Eurospeedway in Klettwitz May 26, 2011.

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The vehicle of the Microjoule La Joliverie (France) racing team undergoes a technical inspection before competing in the Shell Eco Marathon at the Lausitz Eurospeedway in Klettwitz May 26, 2011.

John Macdougall / AFP - Getty Images

The vehicle of the Philipp-Matthaeus-Hahn-Schule (Germany) racing team competes in the Shell Eco Marathon at the Lausitz Eurospeedway in Klettwitz May 26, 2011.

More information about the competition on Shell's website.