Extreme E and Official Sustainability Partner EY share Season 2 carbon footprint

Extreme E has published its second Sustainability Report, compiled and produced in collaboration with EY. The Report reveals the racing series’ environmental footprint for Season 2, maintaining the carbon-neutral status it established from the outset and continuing to champion e-mobility by racing electric vehicles only.

EY teams calculated that 9,045 tCO2-e was emitted during Season 2 (1808.8 tCO2e per race), all offset through the purchase of Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) environmental certificates for two deforestation programmes in Brazil’s Amazon.

Complimentary to this achievement, Extreme E executed the first major motorsports event fully supported by renewable energy during the season finale – the Uruguay Natural Energy X Prix. With 98 per cent of Uruguay’s electricity generated from renewable sources, Extreme E was able to satisfy additional power requirements with onsite solar generation and hydrogen fuel cells, ultimately delivering the race utilizing 100 per cent renewable energy.

EY was last month named Extreme E Official Sustainability Partner, extending the relationship, and strengthening its commitment to minimizing the series’ environmental impact across each remote race location. By developing a Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) framework during Season 1, which includes a calculation of emission sources for each race, EY teams continue to support Extreme E’s objective to offset their carbon footprint and create a positive legacy.

Dr. Matthew Bell, EY Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader, said: “It is an honor to be named Extreme E's Official Sustainability Partner for 2023, reinforcing a shared ambition to highlight urgent issues surrounding climate change. It is timely to reflect on the Season 2 Sustainability Report, which EY teams were again proud to be entrusted to coordinate and support. The findings clearly show that the series is going from strength to strength, not only in delivering exemplary sustainability outcomes, but representing a beacon of positive progress to all industries."

One of Extreme E’s key objectives continues to be around accelerating gender equality in motorsports, with each racing team represented by one female and one male driver. Comparing Season 2 median race time data with Season 1, the Report reveals that the female-male performance gap has closed by a notable 26 per cent, highlighting that the gender gap can be narrowed by providing equal access to track time and performance development opportunities.

There were numerous Season 2 highlights that showcase the calibre of Extreme E’s female drivers, including Cristina Gutiérrez recording the fastest laps during both the Final in Chile and the Crazy Race in Uruguay as part of two pivotal race wins for X44 Vida Carbon Racing that would ultimately lead to the team winning the championship.

The Report also outlines how Extreme E, a signatory of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Sport for Climate Action, has reviewed its sustainability strategy, identifying twelve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that benefit from its positive contribution. Through strategic partnerships and its Legacy Programme, the racing series plans to work with local communities to find solutions to environmental challenges; showcase new and emerging low-carbon technologies through electric SUV, hydrogen fuel cells and second-life batteries; and improve equality and access for women and minorities in motorsport.

Extreme E is currently working with EY to develop an Outcomes Measurement Framework that will help monitor, measure and report on the outcomes of the Legacy Program projects during Season 3 and improve sustainability performance.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “The Report illustrates how Extreme E is leading the way as an action-based test bed for innovation and progress beyond the series. We have once again consistently achieved the lowest carbon footprint in motorsport in front of a TV audience which grew by 30 per cent – reaching 135m viewers during Season 2 and continuing to grow its circle of influence. We feel incredibly proud to see the performance gap between males and females close by almost a third in just two Seasons, proving beyond doubt that this gender equal sporting format is creating genuine sporting impact for female drivers. The biggest successes come from collaboration; this is no longer just Extreme E’s crusade, and EY together with the rest of our partner cohort are passionate contributors to our bold mission.”

Julia Wall-Clarke, Head of Communications and Impact at Extreme E, added: “Extreme E is not your average motorsport. We utilise the inspiring platform sport provides to tell engaging stories on global issues, from carbon emissions, to Arctic ice melt, deforestation, and ocean health, to energy and technology innovations, all with a community first, solution based lens.

“This series was designed around having greater purpose, and the result is engaging content and meaningful action which inspires our fans and ecosystem to shift course, and take greater consideration and responsibility about everyday lifestyle choices.”

Extreme E Season 3 continues next month as the racing series heads to Scotland with its highly anticipated Hydro X Prix taking place 13-14 May. Racing will take place inside the Glenmuckloch former coal mine which is due to undergo transition into a Pumped Storage Hydropower plant, providing a highly visual backdrop for the sport to spotlight clean energy transition.

Find out more about how Extreme E and EY are working together.