On the Opening Ceremony, which marks the XXII edition of the postgraduate program in “Energy Resource Management”, SAFE organized a meeting on April 8 with important representatives of motorsport, innovation, technology and sustainable mobility.
The event was presented by Raffaele Chiulli, president of SAFE and by Andrea Moretti, consultant of the organization, which has been in the energy and environment sector for more than twenty years. The first to speak was Alejandro Agag, co-founder of Extreme E, who explained in detail what the objective of the electric off-road competition is.
“We decided to do Extreme E to take this cars to the extremes, to the most remote locations of the planet to showcase what’s going on there with different themes,” said Agag explaining the desertification, pollution of the oceans, melting of the icecaps, deforestation, and the melting of the glaciers.
On the other hand, Fancesco Venturini, CEO of Enel X, pointed out that motorsport is fundamental for the research and development of the technology.
“It was very important for us to be among the first supporters of Formula E, seven years ago. We saw the possibility of working with people looking for extreme reseach and with all the extreme you find in competition.”
UIM E1 Series
The president, Raffaele Chiulli explained that at the end of September 2020 in Monaco the new UIM E1 series was launched with the presence of its co-founders Alejandro Agag, and Rodi Basso. The latter in his intervention pointed out that motorsport is characterized by three important ingredients.
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“These (aspects) are important, even more so in these days and decades that we are living. The first is discontinuity. The rules are continually changing and engineers and technicians embrace these changes,” said Basso.
The second ingredient mentioned by the co-founder of the E1 is the sense of urgency, since the constructors have scheduled races on the calendar and have to deliver the best possible vehicle, motorcycle or boat without exception and without postponements within a set time.
“The third element is acceleration, one of the most important book about motorsport and the definition of a motor racing vehicle is that is a vehicle always accelerated,” explained.
Drivers talk
The event also featured the participation of Formula 1 champions who currently play an important role in the first season of the new Extreme E. Such are the cases of Nico Rosberg and Jenson Buttton.
“We are fighting against climate change, all together with motorsport. This sport can have a hue power and we would like to do this with our sport,” said Nico Rosberg, Formula 1 champion in the 2016 season.
Jenson Button, F1 champion in 2009, showed happiness to be part of Extreme E, not only when competing but also by having his own team facing the squads of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and different rally drivers, rallycross and Dakar.
Formula E champion Lucas Di Grassi was the last of the drivers to intervene wishing luck to all the students, teachers and staff involved in the new SAFE postgraduate “Energy Resource Management”.
Written by | Gabriel Sayago