Extreme E - Female-Male performance gap continues to narrow & Carbon Footprint Reduction

Extreme E has recently released its third Sustainability Report, a collaborative effort with EY. Highlighting its commitment to sustainability, the report underscores the series' use of ODYSSEY 21 off-road electric vehicles, powered by solar and green hydrogen energy. Impressively, the report reveals a reduction of 8.2% in the overall carbon footprint, maintaining the series' carbon-neutral status.

EY's calculations indicate a decrease in emitted CO2, totaling 8,301 tCO2-e during Season 3, compared to 9,045 tCO2-e in Season 2. This reduction occurred despite extended travel and double-header races at each X Prix event.

Extreme E's dedication to sustainability extends to its race site infrastructure, which operates entirely on renewable energy sources, including green hydrogen from ENOWA's Hydrogen Fuel Cell System. Furthermore, the series has implemented innovative waste management practices, engaged local suppliers, and prioritised sourcing food and beverages locally for each race event.

The report also highlights strides in gender equality within the series.

Since Season 1, the female-male performance gap has narrowed by an average of 51%, with the current average gap standing at just 1.5 seconds. This progress underscores the importance of equal access to track time and performance development for female drivers.

Gender equality remains a focal point for Extreme E, with each racing team comprising one female and one male driver. Additionally, nearly 50% of the series' workforce is female. This commitment is reflected in the audience demographics, with a notable increase in female viewership compared to the previous season.

Cristina Gutiérrez, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team driver, added: 

“I dreamt of being a driver in Extreme E because I understood the importance of the championship and I knew there were many other aspects including equality. As a woman in motorsport, Extreme E has given us confidence and it has provided so many opportunities since I started competing in the series. I think I have definitely grown a lot as a driver since the beginning, so I think Extreme E is giving us a great platform.

I think the Sustainability Report is really important for Extreme E. It’s very nice that we can share many things like the competition and the adrenaline on track, but also focus on sustainability off it, through taking care of nature and trying to understand the problems around the world. 

At each event we learn more about the environmental problems. I think it’s a big opportunity for us to discover these issues and try to educate people about them through social media, our communities, and explain to people the problems that we have found affecting our planet.”

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, expressed pride in the series' sustainability efforts and commitment to creating a lasting legacy. He noted the significant progress made in promoting gender equality within motorsport and reiterated Extreme E's partnership with EY as a testament to their shared sustainability goals. Dr. Matthew Bell, EY Global Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader, commended Extreme E's sustainable business model, emphasising the shared purpose between EY and Extreme E in addressing climate change.

Looking ahead, Extreme E reaffirmed its partnership with EY as the Official Sustainability Partner for Season 4. EY will continue to assess the environmental impact of each race and support initiatives promoting diversity, equality, and inclusiveness.

Through collaboration with EY, Extreme E has developed an Outcome Measurement Framework (OMF) to measure the impact of its Legacy Programme partners. This framework aids in making informed decisions to ensure sustainable impact across all racing locations.

Extreme E Season 4 is set to continue in July, with a focus on races in Europe.

Season 4 calendar: 

Saudi Arabia - 17-18 February 2024
Europe, TBD - 13-14 July 2024
Sardinia, Italy - 14-15 September 2024
Sardinia, Italy - 21-22 September 2024
USA - 23-24 November 2024

To learn more about Extreme E and its sustainability efforts, visit https://www.extreme-e.com