Envision Virgin Racing Promotes Electric Cars With Cop26 Partnership

UK based Formula E team Envision Virgin Racing has announced a partnership with the COP26 Together for Our Planet campaign in a bid to encourage global action against climate change.

The campaign is part of the UK government’s build-up to the COP26 event, which will be held in Glasgow later this year.

The team – which currently holds the status as the only carbon neutral team in the electric racing series – says it is also aiming to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs)for road users.

The team’s two fully-electric race cars – capable of speeds of more than 150mph – will carry the ‘Together for Our Planet’ and UK Government branding as it competes this season, beginning next month in Diriyah and scheduled to conclude in London later this year.

Alok Sharma, former UK Government minister and COP26 President Designate, said: “I am delighted Envision Virgin Racing are taking the Together for Our Planet campaign ‘on tour’ and inspiring people around the world to take urgent climate action ahead of COP26.

“We know that electric vehicles are greener, cleaner, and better for the planet. To meet the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement, we need to clean up the air we breathe by doubling the pace of transition to zero emission vehicles.”

Envision Virgin Racing’s Managing Director Sylvain Filippi added: “Envision Virgin Racing, Formula E and the UK Government are all at the forefront of the EV revolution, especially with so many personnel, vehicles and infrastructure based and built right here in the UK. As such, we are honoured to be joining forces with what is the most important climate event of the year and playing a pivotal role in encouraging motorists to make the switch and, more importantly, tackle climate change before it is too late.

“Through the exciting platform of motorsport, we’re able to showcase the true potential of electric vehicles as we compete in cities across the globe, developing innovative technology that will filter from the track to the road and accelerating the adoption of EVs.”

To aid the transition to electric vehicles Envision Virgin Racing – owned by greentech company Envision Group – will work with the Together for Our Planet campaign on key initiatives across the year under the race team’s ‘Race Against Climate Change’ sustainability programme, including a series of digital events in the run up to COP26, a children’s competition to design an environmentally inspired race suit to be worn by the team’s drivers, plus activities at the Formula E race locations around the world.