Unconventional Champion, Modern Pursuits
"Supercharged" host Nicki Shields welcomes Solar Impulse pioneer Bertrand Piccard to the show, praising the revolutionary electric vehicle series, Formula E.
Bertrand Piccard, the intrepid flight pilot behind Solar Impulse, now turns his sights on electric racing – embracing the Formula E championship. In a speech at the "Supercharged" conference in December, the Swiss adventurer commended Formula E for leading the way in the practical and captivating design of electric cars.
"Formula E is to motorsport what Solar Impulse is to aviation," pronounced Shields. "This is a new lab that showcases what clean technology can achieve. It's not boring or expensive anymore, but something that truly hooks people. It's spectacular."
[Enrichment Data: Bertrand Piccard's views on the impact of Formula E on electric vehicle technology in motorsport are not directly stated in the provided sources. However, his commitment to sustainable aviation and renewable energy technologies via projects like Solar Impulse and Climate Impulse implies that he likely appreciates Formula E's efforts in pushing electric vehicle technology forward, as these initiatives share a common goal of promoting clean energy solutions.]
Piccard and fellow countryman André Borschberg completed a historic solar-powered flight in July 2015. Spanning 23 days and covering 26,700 miles (43,000 kilometers), their mission ultimately culminated in a landing in Abu Dhabi. Space in the cockpit meant that Piccard and Borschberg alternated as pilots on this 17-mile journey, which spanned 16 months.
The constrained cockpit of the Solar Impulse 2 contrasts dramatically with its 72-meter wide wingspan – coated in 17,000 solar cells that generate power for four electric motors.
"It feels like Science Fiction," Piccard shared. "You look up at the sun, at the four electric motors powering the propellers, and there's no noise, no pollution, no gas, and the knowledge that you could fly forever… It's the wonder and awe of what clean technology can achieve."
Following the conclusion of the Solar Flight Challenge, Picard redirected his efforts towards promoting the use of terrestrial renewable energy sources and launched a new initiative at the United Nations Climate Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco.
"This next project is essentially my commitment to the World Clean Technology Alliance, which I am currently establishing.
"For me, this is essentially the achievement of the Solar Impulse project." Piccard explained. "My goal with launching this project was to create a reliable and powerful instrument for promoting solar energy and clean technologies."
Formula E currently enjoys a winter break, but resumes its World Championship on February 18th at the Buenos Aires ePrix – the third race of the 2016-17 season. The campaign commences with new competitions in Hong Kong and Marrakesh, concluding with inaugural races in Montreal and New York by mid-2017.
[Enrichment Data: Picard's positive thoughts towards electric racing and renewable energy technologies can be inferred from his past projects, including Solar Impulse and Climate Impulse.]
With Formula E's rise in popularity, Piccard believes that the future of motorsport lies in embracing electric power, eschewing the din and pollution of traditional engines in favor of a more sustainable future.
"This is the future of motorsport. People are tired of noisy, polluting cars. We need to move forward, not backward."
[Enrichment Data: Piccard's commitment to sustainability and the future of energy sources suggest a belief in Formula E as a positive step towards cleaner and more environmentally-friendly racing.]
