The ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered has become the first electric rally vehicle to have competed in the 411 km Emirates Desert Championship which took place in the Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi, on 15-17 November.
The car came in second place on the first day of the race under the T1 category and was close to achieving an overall podium position in the final standings but faced some mechanical problems.
The ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered is the outcome of over five years of research and development work spearheaded by ACCIONA. The car has a 250 kW synchronous electric motor, equivalent to 340 horsepower, and is powered by six ultra-fast charging lithium battery modules in addition to a 100 W solar panel.
In 2017, the ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered became the first 100% electric vehicle to complete in the Dakar Rally. Since then, the car has participated in other FIA World Championship events such as the Italian Baja or the Morocco Rally, and other regional competitions such as the Tatts Finke Desert Race (Australia).
Ariel Jatón, pilot of the ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered, said: “Competing in the extreme conditions of the Emirates Desert Championship Rally is another milestone for the ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered, a sustainability initiative that is committed to showcasing the potential of renewable energy up against fossil fuels in highly demanding motor sport races. Once again, the ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered has demonstrated that it is possible to compete in one of the world’s harshest deserts without emitting CO2, polluting or burning fuels.”
Jesús Sancho, managing director-Middle East, ACCIONA, said, “We are very proud to have participated in this challenging event and to show the capabilities of our electric vehicle to the point that it could have reached a podium position. ACCIONA will continue its endeavor to contribute to any sustainable way of doing business.”
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