The 80edays electric vehicle (EV) rally, a competition among 11 international teams to cross the globe with 100% EVs in 80 days or less, has announced that the participants have reached Lisbon, Portugal, completing the European portion of the endurance challenge.
According to a recent rally release, Barcelona hosted the start of the event on June 16, lining up 10 pure electric cars and an electric bus at the Arc de Triomf to participate in ELDURO, the second episode of 80edays. The 11 registered teams include Team Spain, Team Austria, Team China, Team Czech Republic, Team Germany I, Team Germany III, Team Hungary, Team Italia, Team Switzerland I, Team Switzerland II and Team U.S.
The teams are looking to beat the previous record set by Rafael de Mestre, who, in 2012, rallied alone around the globe in a standard all-electric Tesla Roadster in 127 days.
De Mestre, now Team Spain pilot, says that “the technologies are more than ready to take the steering wheel. Hopefully, our journey increases more awareness for sustainable transport and proves that the electric cars are as good, if not better, than fuel-consuming cars across different conditions and terrains.”
Teams will be required to pass preset checkpoints across three continents, 20 countries and more than 40 major cities, covering a distance of more than 25,000 kilometers. Further, the release says the teams are expected to cross the Atlantic on June 21 and land in Halifax, Canada, to continue their way to the U.S. Participants are expected to arrive in Los Angeles on July 8, head to China and then complete the rally in Europe by Sept. 4.
The release says that all of the participating EVs have been inspected by Dangerous Goods Authority and have been given the green light to pursue the rally. The odometers of each EV were also documented to keep tabs on the total distance covered by teams and the CO2 emission savings compared with fuel-dependent cars.
According to the rally’s release, one Tesla Roadster, the first fully electric sports car, and eight Tesla Model S, the luxury sedan, are the EVs of choice as some of the strongest teams in the challenge.
Tesla, however, is not the only electric car representing the power of modern EV technologies: DENZA, the Sino-German joint venture brand built in China, will also participate and is considered one of the best electric cars from Asia, according to team captain Andrew Yi Zong, CEO of PHNIX ECO-Energy Solutions and one of the 80edays ambassadors.
Modulo composite electric bus, developed by evopro and built for urban and suburban use, is also expected to make its mark. The release states that it is the first electric bus in Hungary and has been praised for its mechanics that can handle long-haul trips.
The 80edays rally aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility and prove that EV technology is ready to become a driver’s first choice with its eco-sustainable outlook and infrastructure. A cooperation on a carbon-offset reforestation project with myclimate, the 80edays official eco-partner, is highlighting the critical social issues that are emerging as a result of increased pollution and rapid deforestation.
