HOUSTON, Texas (CBS4) – The Shell Eco-Marathon started as a friendly competition between scientists, but the Houston event has evolved into a much more high-stakes affair.

Students from the University of Colorado and the Colorado School of Mines are among 112 teams competing in this year’s competition, where the goal is to create the most fuel efficient vehicle possible.

Matt Fedderson and Jeff Vankeulen from CU’s team spoke about the commitment they’ve made to the project during an interview on the CBS4 Morning News on Friday.

“We have really high hopes for this year. We’ve done a lot of work since September. That’s all we’ve been doing, and we’re hoping for the best,” Vankeulen said.

Fedderson and Vankeulen’s team’s car looks similar to a sidecar. The body is made up of carbon fiber and it was designed by a CU aerospace engineer.

LINK: Shell Eco-Marathon