The race to zero, an appropriate name zero emissions race designed to raise awareness about environmentally friendly cars, began its 18,000 miles, the 80-day trip in Switzerland earlier this week. Zero career began earlier this week in Geneva, Switzerland, and competitors – four small equipment designed especially for electric vehicles – will make their way through Berlin and then to Shanghai, China. After his trip to the Far East, will resume the race in Vancouver, Canada, and then to Cancun, Mexico, in time for the World Climate Change Conference that begins on 29 November.
Over the coming months, participants will cover over 18,000 miles and travel for more than 80 days. All four of the competing cars are powered by electricity purchased from renewable resources like wind or sun. Each vehicle can reach a minimum speed of 55 miles per hour and travel 155 miles between charges. In this way, the teams travel the world without ever vehicle that emits a pollutant exhaust or a power source. As the vehicles must be moved across several oceans, the event will not be completely free of emissions, however.
Although called a race, time is nothing but the determining factor in who wins. Competitors are scored on its reliability during the race, energy efficiency, safety, performance, design and popularity as marked by the spectators along the road. At the end of the race, the competitor with the highest score wins.
“This clean technology initiative underscores the importance of individual efforts in building a greener future, low carbon for the world,” said United Nations Environment Programme, Achim Steiner, executive director.
The race reflects the growing interest in low emission vehicles. This interest, combined with incentives and government regulations has pushed automakers to investigate hybrid and electric vehicles as the Volt and Nissan upcomingChevrolet Sheet. The small startup automaker Tesla just builds electric vehicles, such as his role model and planned Roadster S sedan.