“The balance is completely positive. It was so difficult to organize it because of all the challenges we had to face because of COVID-19 to get to the locations, and yet we managed to create a full season with five electric off-road races, something never seen before,” Agag said in an interview with the Italian media “Quattruote”.

He pointed out that an important part of the tournament’s success is due to the quality of the car, the result of a “fantastic” development platform, where it is easy to find any problem and fix it. 

Related content: Extreme E Urges World Leaders to Take Key Actions on Climate Change at COP26

“We had some difficulties with the inverter, because when the temperature was too high, the machine stopped for safety reasons, but we solved it. The car is constantly improving, however, we are still testing to improve the shock absorbers,” Agag detailed.

He revealed that Extreme E has a test car that serves to check different configurations. He stressed that one of the difficulties encountered was that every time the car entered the water, it stopped. “This was because there was a small area that was not well protected, we discovered it and fixed the detail on all the machines.”

Other Teams Arriving

When asked about the inclusion of other manufacturers to the championship, Agag said that the teams are very cautious about new events and take time to make decisions. 

He assured that brands “come and go”, and expressed his satisfaction for having independent and solid squads such as Hamilton, Rosberg and Button. “They are all great champions in Extreme E. Then, little by little, other houses will come,” he said.

On driver performance and the chances of a track racer joining the Extreme E off-roaders, Agag doubts they can be very competitive because they need a completely different and very specific driving style. “Rally drivers like Loeb and Sainz are also extraordinary when driving alone, but when it comes to competing against other cars, it’s often the experience of rallycross drivers who are more used to these situations. The result is interesting, a very close championship”.

Finally, the boss took the opportunity to reinforce his sustainable message, urging all motor racing, including Formula 1, to make the transition to electric technology.

Written by I Jhonattan González

The post Agag Highlights Extreme E’s Success Amid COVID-19 Crisis appeared first on Green Racing News.

An example of this was the impressive roll-over of CUPRA racer Claudia Hürtgen at Saudi Arabia’s inaugural X Prix. After the accident, she was unhurt due to her Odyssey 21 electric SUV.

Giuliano Fernandes, founding partner of CBMM, a cutting-edge company responsible, with Spark, for developing chassis and roll cage for its racing car fleet with components already tested, revealed about the design and construction of these powerful vehicles that move the category forward.

Related content: Latin America will have Extreme E exclusive content in National Geographic

“CBMM was very excited about Extreme E’s entire concept and wanted to be involved from the beginning when we heard about Alejandro Agag’s plan, to race electric SUVs in remote locations,” he said.

“We believe motorsport is extremely important in promoting an innovative environment and allowing technological developments with the most experienced companies and professionals in the world. CBMM believes there is a total synergy between its purpose and Extreme E’s, both with an ambition to develop and promote technology and sustainability,” he explained.

Regarding Hürtgen’s accident in the Arabian desert, Fernandes noted: “It was possible to test the superstructure and extreme safety of ODYSSEY 21, the e-SUV developed by Spark of France, using CBMM’s niobium material technology, developed in Brazil. Seeing Claudia walk away normally after a stunning accident, a scene that went viral around the world, reinforced that the job was well done and that using super-strong materials both helps in terms of sustainability and saving lives.”

Niobium use

One of the key elements featured in the Extreme E cars is niobium, a ductile, gray, soft and rare transition metal. It is used in alloys. It is mainly employed in steel alloys, on which it confers high strength.

“Niobium is a processed metal that improves performance and sustainability of different materials. Our intense R&D program constantly develops its unique properties and multiple applications in different sectors,” Fernandes detailed.

He noted that “niobium is a key material used to manufacture both Odyssey 21’s chassis and roll cage at Extreme E. Using niobium steel provides increased strength and elasticity of the steel alloy, making the material stronger and tougher at the same time, a unique benefit that is essential to help increase automobile safety.

Niobium has a wide range of applications and can be found in many vital sectors, including construction industry, for example, structural steels which make buildings safe. It is also used in energy sector and is leading toward more sustainable ways of generating, distributing and consuming energy. 

CBMM’s work and its weight in automotive industry

About the company Fernandes said, “CBMM’s history began 66 years ago in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. In 1961, CBMM started producing niobium. Little was known about this metal, but with innovation at the heart of this company’s DNA, it was a pioneer and innovator at realizing benefits from this unique material. 

Today, CBMM’s niobium technology serves more than 400 customers in more than 40 countries around the world.”

“CBMM is the only Brazilian company to be a partner in major sustainable motorsport platforms, such as Extreme E, Formula E and Rally, something we are very proud of,” he added.

Read also: Formula E sets audience records around the world

He pointed out that ” automotive industry has always been concerned about using the most advanced materials and technologies to ensure the safety and quality of its products. It is, as of today, one of the biggest consumers of advanced materials.” 

“Seeing this potential and knowing that motorsports is a great research and development campus for new and innovative technologies, we envisioned the possibility of starting something new and different, as an opportunity to lead electrification, electric mobility and niobium’s revolutionary technology and applications to the world,” Fernandes concluded.

Written by I Jhonattan González

The post Story behind building the powerful Odyssey 21, Extreme E’s electric SUV appeared first on Green Racing News.

However, the competition has announced veteran Jutta Kleinschmidt as a female substitute for the first season, who will pilot the “Odyssey 21s” if any team requires the replacement of their (female) starter.

Kleinschmidt, born in Cologne, Germany, is one of the greatest representatives in the world of rallying, a fact that is demonstrated thanks to the fact that the driver is the first and only woman who has managed to win a Dakar Rally, after obtaining the milestone in 2001.

Read also: Confirmed: Techeetah postpones their participation in Extreme E

In addition to being available to replace any of the 9 women who will participate in the first race, Jutta was named “Official Advisor” of Extreme E, a role that she will surely play in an outstanding way if we consider that she has more than 30 years of motorsport experience.

“Simply put, it’s absolutely amazing to be part of the Extreme E family as an adviser and ‘championship driver.’ It’s an incredibly exciting role that will require all of my experience,” said said the German driver after being named.

“I’m also going to really enjoy supporting the sporting team on a range of things. Environmentally friendly new technologies are the future of motorsport so I can’t wait to join this innovative and revolutionary new Electric Off-Road series, which also provides an important equal gender racing format to showcase the best in female driver talent.” 

Jutta Kleinschmidt, advisor and championship driver.

The inaugural X Prix of the competition will be held in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia between April 3-4, and will be broadcast through Extreme E’s social media and YouTube channel.

Written by | Osward Rubio

The post Jutta Kleinschmidt will be Extreme E’s alternate driver and advisor appeared first on Green Racing News.

The competition takes into account that 30% of the planet’s CO2 emissions come from different means of transport. Considering the aforementioned, Extreme E has chosen to mobilize all their logistics through a ship specially designed for the occasion: the ST. Helena.

Read also: Ship ST. Helena arrived in Arab lands with the logistics of the “Electric Odyssey”

In addition, in order to reach a net zero carbon footprint at the end of the season, the organization has committed to compensate those that it cannot avoid, through global programs certified by ALLCOT. This balance, aims to appease the 20K tons of CO2 that they estimate, will leave the series in the inaugural year.

Targets in the crosshairs

Extreme E is already part of the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, an agreement that encourages sports organizations to fight climate change through the 5 principles mentioned below:

– Promote greater environmental responsibility.
– Reduce the overall climate impact of sports.
– Use your platform to educate climate action.
– Promote sustainable and responsible consumption.
– Defend climate action through your communications.

Minimum assistance

Unlike other series, the Extreme E tries to show a contrary face in the call of fans. The new category will not have attendance, that is, all followers will see the show through live television, YouTube and social networks, as well as through a series of documentaries.

It is important to mention that each team may have 8 people on stage, who will be distributed as follows: 5 mechanics, 1 engineer and two pilots (one man and one woman).

Written by | Osward Rubio

The post Extreme E races will be without spectators appeared first on Green Racing News.

On the afternoon of February 18, after a great celebration led by the founder of the competition, Alejandro Agag, the ST Helena sailed for the first time after being for more than 2 years in a remodeling and modernization process, which had as main purpose to minimize the emissions.

Read also: Confirmed: Techeetah postpones their participation in Extreme E

Nevertheless, beyond serving only as a means of transport, the ship in question has also become a “floating center”, since at the same time it was on board, the laboratory came into action with the research team that intends to develop projects within benefit of sustainability.

In addition, in the route, the ST. Helena collected some highly polluting waste from the sea such as plastic and aluminum, with which the trophies that the winners of each of the 5 competitions that will be held during 2021 will be made later in the trophies that will be hit by climate change.

Past ST. Helena

It was on February 10, 2018 when the RMS (Royal Mail Ship) ST. Helena made its last voyage from the island of St Helena, when the ship functioned as a supply and lifeguard, sailing between the waters of Cape Town and the British Overseas Territory.

Previously, this ship belonged to the Royal Mail Steamship, a company that has operated since 1840 and owns the historic ocean liner, the RMS Titanic.

One more step for Extreme E!

It will be between April 3-4 when the first electric off-road SUV competition, the Extreme E, will debut, which will see their first race in the desert of Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia.

Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, will participate in the competition, although not as drivers but as creators of the teams, with the exception of the last one that will cover both facets.

Written by | Osward Rubio

The post Ship ST. Helena arrived in Arab lands with the logistics of the “Electric Odyssey” appeared first on Green Racing News.

Capable of firing from 0 to 100 km / h in 4.5 seconds, this “sustainable beast” has been manufactured by Spark Racing Technology and its battery was produced by Williams Advanced Engineering.

But beyond meeting demands that probably 5 years ago very few people could contemplate, the Odyssey 21 has an aesthetic that makes practically any fan of motorsport (And not so much) turn to appreciate it.

After each team received their copy in September 2020, each squad started with the changes in smart technology and of course, began to work on the appearance that will differentiate their vehicles from other electric SUVs.

Read also: The Extreme E will lead CUPRA into the development of electric motors

The result? Incredible Odyssey 21s that, despite having a great variety of colors and various changes in the initial design, maintain their wild and imposing appearance.

Below, you can see the list of the off-road of each of the teams so far, considering that less than a month before the start of the first season, the Chip Ganassi Racing team presented a new version, an action that Andretti United XE also carried out shortly before mid-February.

ABT Cupra XE

ACCIONA SAINZ | XE TEAM

ANDRETTI UNITED

CHIP GANASSI RACING

HISPANO SUIZA XLTE

JBXE

ROSBERG EXTREME RACING

VELOCE RACING

X44

It is important to mention that to date, the Techeetah team has not announced any model of its vehicle or drivers.

It is important to mention that the Odyssey 21s will meet for the first time on April 3 and 4 in the Al-Ula desert of Saudi Arabia, in a race that will be broadcast in dozens of countries.

To be updated with all the news related to the Extreme E, follow us on Twitter and Instagram as @greenracingnews.

Written by | Osward Rubio

The post This is how the “ODYSSEY 21” of the Extreme E teams look like appeared first on Green Racing News.

With a 400kw (550hp) battery and a weight of 1,650 kilograms spread across its 2.3 meter of width, this car is capable of challenging slopes in excess of 130%. There is no SUV electric with superior characteristics. 

The presentation of Odyssey took place in July 2019 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, after the manufacturer specialized in electric mobility, Spark Racing Technology, accepted the challenge of building a beast of this caliber; capable of starting from 0 to 100 km / h in just 4.5 seconds. 

Alejandro Agag, the highest representative member of Extreme E, assured in the aforementioned exhibition that: “The Odyssey is unlike anything seen before in motorsports. Elements of your composition such as the crash structure and the roll cage are reflected in its avant-garde design”. 

The construction of the referred SUV took approximately two months. The results: a complete car fully electric with the ability to brave the fiery sands of the Al-Ula desert, or the cold trails of Patagonia, places the Extreme E will visit during the first season. 

The startup 

After showing his design at the inauguration in Paris and informing some of his main attributes, it was finally time to launch the Odyssey 21 in the company of the official partner tire, Continental Tyres. 

The Castles de Lastours test field, located in the south of France, was the place in charge of the practice week for the car in question. It should be mentioned that this place is constantly chosen by the pilots of the Dakar World Rally Championship. 

Final test 

Prior to the inauguration of the Extreme E in the Al-Ula spaces in Saudi Arabia, the organizers decided that these vehicles would participate in the well-known Dakar Rally of cars from endurance, where they achieved the third best time of the rally-raid route by the hand of the pilot Ken Block. 

It is important to say in September the teams received their vehicles, according to the information provided by the official website extreme-e.com. In addition, each of them may make the modifications required, respecting the rules of the competition. 

To read more about motors and sustainable mobility, follow us on Twitter and Instagram as @latamobility

Read also: Agag pressures F1 to merge with Formula E January 28, 2021 In Formula E

Drafting | Osward Rubio

The post Alejandro Agag about Odyssey 21: “It doesn’t look like anything seen before” appeared first on Green Racing News.