Louis Palmer was the first man to navigate around the world in a solar vehicle. His 2008 trip driving Solartaxi took 18 months.
This time, he plans to up the pressure by reducing the trip to 80 days, and competing against three other electric cars.
On Monday, the ZERO Race launched from the United Nations Palace in Geneva, Switzerland. Each team had to come prepared with their own uniquely developed electric vehicle created specifically for the race. In the end, the journey will prove which technology reigns supreme.
“With this race we want to show, that seven billion people on this planet need renewable energy and clean mobility,” said Palmer in a press release. “Petrol is running out, and the climate crisis is coming … and we are all running against time.”
In addition to leaving their competitors behind in their emissionless dust, the race also factors in reliability, energy efficiency, everyday utility, design and safety.
From Geneva, the racers will make their way to Brussels, Berlin, Vienna, Moscow and Shanghai. The vehicles will be shipped to Vancouver where they will rejoin their drivers to travel down the West Coast all the way to Cancun, Mexico. They’ll do a little showing off there at the United Nations Climate Conference. Next, the cars will be shipped to Portugal and the drivers will then take off again traveling through Southwest Europe and back to Geneva. The trip comprises 18,641 miles through 16 countries (plus 115 press stops) in 80 en-route travel days. They’ll hit home at the end of January 2011.
Zero Race, of course is about being green, and will offset any air or sea travel and shipping emissions through myclimate.
“The success of ZERO Race depends on the number of people reached and inspired enough to take action towards a more sustainable way of life,” said Palmer. “Growing traffic and environmental pollution are situations that are just asking for solutions. The ZERO Race is very much about showing realistic ways towards a cleaner and greener future for the planet and its people.”
Photo courtesy of ZERO Race.