In a remarkable feat of sustainability, the off-road racing series Extreme E has unveiled a notable 8.2 percent reduction in its overall carbon footprint during its latest season, despite expanding its race calendar and introducing "double-header" races at each event.
According to the latest Sustainability Report, crafted in collaboration with official sustainability partner EY, the five-event series slashed its carbon emissions from 9,045 tonnes to 8,301 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, marking a significant milestone in its eco-friendly journey.
Delving into the breakdown, 87 percent of emissions stem from freight, 10.4 percent are attributed to staff travel, and 1.3 percent emanate from operations. Interestingly, contributions from food, drink, and vehicles collectively account for less than one percent of the total emissions.
Underscoring its commitment to eco-conscious practices, Extreme E continued to champion the use of Odyssey 21 off-road electric vehicles throughout its races. Moreover, the series amplified its reliance on solar and green hydrogen energy to power race-day infrastructure, ensuring a seamless transition towards 100 percent renewable energy utilization.
Innovative approaches such as harnessing green hydrogen produced by Enowa's fuel cell system and implementing advanced waste management protocols underscore Extreme E's steadfast dedication to minimizing its environmental impact. Additionally, the series adopted a localized approach by engaging regional suppliers and sourcing food and beverages locally for each X Prix race event.
Furthermore, utilizing Zenobe's repurposed battery storage systems, which deliver 900KWh of energy storage, coupled with Power Logistics' solar panel system, which covers up to twenty percent of the series' energy requirements, epitomizes Extreme E's holistic approach to sustainability.
Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Extreme E, described the pace of change heralded by the series' launch as "extraordinary" and reiterated his hope to create an exciting motorsport championship and leave a long-lasting legacy both on and off track.
"It is incredible that we have now completed three seasons of Extreme E," he said. "Our latest Sustainability Report with EY represents those efforts, with solid progress in our sustainability and legacy initiatives to deliver a global racing championship with minimal environmental impact.
"We are thrilled to have EY as our Official Sustainability Partner again for 2024. Their continued commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with our mission to create a better planet through sport."
The partnership with EY, the Official Sustainability Partner, remains pivotal in driving sustainability initiatives forward. Through developing an outcome measurement framework for Legacy Programme partners, EY facilitated the articulation of impact metrics for critical collaborators such as Enowa, LuisaViaRoma, and Continental Tires.
"Extreme E remains a powerful example of how a business can be successfully reimagined as a more sustainable model," said Dr. Matthew Bell, EY global climate change and sustainability services leader.
"Reflecting on the Season 3 report, I am thrilled that EY will continue as Extreme E's Official Sustainability Partner. EY teams' knowledge, capabilities and insight around climate change and sustainability, linked with Extreme E's passion to constantly create lasting impact, means that this collaboration is underpinned by a strong sense of shared purpose.
"Ultimately, the report shows that the racing series is going from strength to strength, with its carbon footprint falling. This serves the broader ambition of promoting awareness around the planet's climate crisis and leaving a more sustainable future for tomorrow's generation."
Looking ahead, Extreme E aims to bolster its renewable energy arsenal during Season 4, aiming to increase the number of solar and wind energy sources while enhancing the output of hydrogen fuel cell systems to a commendable 15MWh.
Moreover, the series is poised for a monumental transition into Extreme H, the world's first hydrogen off-road racing series, slated to attain FIA Championship status from 2025 onwards.
In addition to its sustainability endeavors, Extreme E remains steadfast in pursuing gender equality, with the performance gap between female and male drivers narrowing by an impressive 51 percent since inception.
This latest Sustainability Report release coincides with Formula E's recent partnership with Aggreko, a global energy solutions provider. The partnership aims to deploy clean energy technologies to curtail emissions from race events worldwide, aligning with the electric-racing series' collective climate objectives.