The Acciona 100% EcoPowered has made history in the Middle East by being the first electric rally vehicle to have competed in the 411 km Emirates Desert Championship.

The race took place in the Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi, between November 15 and 17. The car arrived in an outstanding second place on the first day of the race under the T1 category and was close to achieving an overall podium position in the final standings but faced some mechanical problems.

Acciona 100% EcoPowered’s participation in the Emirates Desert Championship Rally now means that the car has competed in rallies throughout five different continents. Competing in the extreme conditions of the Emirates Desert Championship Rally is another milestone for the Acciona 100% EcoPowered, a sustainability initiative that is committed to showcasing the potential of renewable energy up against fossil fuels in highly demanding motorsport races.

By taking on this new challenge, Acciona has once again been successful in raising awareness of the fight against climate change through making history in the world of motor racing.
Ariel Jatón, Acciona 100% EcoPowered pilot, stated, “Once again, the Acciona 100% EcoPowered has demonstrated that it is possible to compete in one of the world’s harshest deserts without emitting CO2, polluting or burning fuels”.

The vehicle made history in 2017 by becoming the first 100 per cent electric vehicle to complete the Dakar Rally, the most emblematic rally race in the world. Since then, the car has gone on to take part in other FIA World Championship events such as the Italian Baja or the Morocco Rally, and other regional competitions such as the Tatts Finke Desert Race (Australia).

Jesús Sancho, Middle East managing director, said: “We are very proud to have participated in this challenging event and to show the capabilities of our electric vehicle to the point that it could have reached a podium position. Acciona will continue its endeavour to contribute to any sustainable way of doing business”.

The Emirates Desert Championship was Acciona 100% EcoPowered’s final stop on its tour through the UAE. In this tour, the car was showcased to numerous authorities, universities and schools in Dubai and Sharjah, and visited several ongoing large projects that Acciona is developing in the region. Among them are the Dubai Metro Route 2020, the Jebel Ali Seawater Desalination plant and the Dubai Photovoltaic Solar Park. The main purpose of this initiative has been to exhibit the Acciona 100% EcoPowered to clients, UAE students and on-site workers in order to raise awareness of its innovative technology and to underpin our commitment to renewable energy.

Technological breakthrough
The Accionna 100% EcoPowered is the outcome of over five years of research and development work spearheaded by Acciona. It is the most energy-efficient electric car in the world, with a 250 kW synchronous electric motor, equivalent to 340 horsepower. The car is powered by six ultra-fast charging lithium battery modules plus a 100 W solar panel. - TradeArabia News Service