When the glamorous world of Formula 1 racing starts organizing an electric Grand Prix and ultra-luxury carmaker Rolls Royce rolls out an electric vehicle, you know that something has changed for the once-maligned electric car.

Some time ago, the European Commission asked Formula One’s governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to set up a racing championship series for electric cars, as a way of increasing public awareness and excitement about new-technology vehicles. It represents a key moment for electric vehicles, raising the prospect of an F1-style electric car championship on Grand Prix circuits. EU Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani, who is pushing EU member countries to increase public adoption of electric cars, said he hoped the event would use F1’s media muscle to stir consumers’ interest in electric vehicles. The project fits into Mr Todt’s strategy for getting the teams of F1 and other motorsport series to embrace hybrid and electronic technology, and to use the global reach of F1 to foster better public understanding of issues such as green energy and road safety.

full article