Extreme E, electric SUVs compete in Sardinia

July 7, 2023

The electric beasts of Extreme E are returning to Italy for the Island X Prix. The ten teams will compete in the south of Sardinia, in the Capo Teulada Army Training Area, located approximately 75 kilometers from Cagliari, on July 8th and 9th. After racing on the sandy terrains of Saudi Arabia and facing the mud of Scotland, the powerful electric SUVs will be tested on a tougher terrain. Rocks, shrubs, and fords will be the challenges that the drivers must overcome to win the third stage of the championship.

The eDrivers will have to overcome the difficulties of the Sardinian terrain, high temperatures, and a considerably harder and compact surface. The competing teams will face a course that winds through rocks, bushes, and heat-dried fords. Excitement will not be lacking: head-to-head challenges and adrenaline-fueled accelerations will ignite the weekend in Sardinia.

The Extreme E Teams

There will be ten competing teams, including McLaren, Rosberg X Racing, Acciona Sainz, Lewis Hamilton's X44, Abt Cupra, Carl Cox Motorsport, Jenson Button JbXe, and Andretti. Each team will field a mixed crew consisting of one man and one woman, who will take turns driving. Among the participating drivers are Nasser Al Attiyah, Dakar champion, Johan Kristoffersson, Mattias Ekström, Christine Gianpaoli Zonca, Laia Sanz, Cristina Gutiérrez, and the Italian Tamara Molinaro.

Currently, Veloce Racing is leading the standings with 80 points and two victories, followed by Acciona Sainz XE Team with 69 points, ahead of the 2021 champions, RxR. The Sardinian challenge will offer additional crucial points for the title race.

Powerful and fast SUVs

Electric vehicles run fast in the Extreme E championship. The Odyssey 21 is a fully electric SUV designed to tackle any type of difficulty. With a maximum power of 470 kW, weighing 1780 kilograms, measuring 2.3 meters in width, and accelerating from 0 to 100 in just 4.5 seconds.

These vehicles are 100% electric but also sustainable. The outer shell of the Odyssey 21 is made of natural flax fiber by Bcomp. This material not only reduces CO2 emissions by 75% in the production process but also provides the highest safety standards.

The Legacy Project in Sardinia

As in every stage of the Extreme E championship, the Legacy Programme will also take place in Sardinia, supporting environmental actions. In Sardinia, half a hectare of plants, shrubs, and nectar-rich trees will be replanted to create a forest that supports bees.

Thanks to the collaboration with the MEDSEA Foundation, which aims to protect and provide sustainable management of the marine and coastal resources of Sardinia and the Mediterranean Sea, a new home for pollinators will be created. This action is essential to support a territory that has been repeatedly devastated by devastating fires in recent years. The role of bees is fundamental for pollination and the sustenance of an ecosystem increasingly threatened by global warming.

The Role of Enel X Way

Power, innovation, and technology are the characteristics of Extreme E and the Waypump 50 Race Edition, the charging infrastructure specifically developed to provide the necessary charge for the SUVs to face the stages of the championship. Fast recharges allow all ten vehicles to be powered before and after the races. This technology is essential to meet the energy demands of electric vehicle drivers on the road every day.