Formula E is racing to save our ice caps, cities, and our planet

Melting ice caps are becoming more and more threatening every year. Formula E is looking to change that.

In 2016 Formula E teamed up with a variety of partners to show the world the negative impact of combustion engines in cars. Lucas Di Grassi had the opportunity to drive a Formula E car in the icy cold arctic circle just outside of Greenland. The unfortunate part is that the region isn’t so icy anymore.

Lucas Di Grassi on driving the Formula E car in Greenland: “It was such a beautiful, peaceful place. To come here and see how huge the ice cap is and how the effect of global warming is changing it, melting it, gives me a completely different understanding of what we are doing with Formula E and the importance of driving electric cars.”

That is exactly why they picked this area. Ice caps have been melting at some unprecedented speeds and soon it will be threatening major northern cities. One of which is New York City. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the United States and could be completely underwater in the future if things don’t change.

Lucas Di Grassi driving on the glacier in Greenland — 2016 (Image: Formula E)

A recent example of rising sea levels in New York was when Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast. New York City and surrounding regions were devastated by flooding and high water levels.

While the the publicity stunt in Greenland was great in helping grow the awareness of melting ice caps, it didn’t make a big enough impact. That is why in 2016 Formula E teamed up with the Southampton University to further study the effect of global warming on our ice sheets.

part of the dGPS system — (Image: Formula E)

They have implemented the use of low power dGPS devices. These are more accurate than your standard car GPS. In other words you won’t need to make any sudden u-turns. It can track the movement of ice sheets to a mere 2cm. The system uses a remote device to collect information that will then relay it to a base station. This will greatly increase our ability to study the cause and effect of melting ice sheets.

Formula E CEO, Alejandro Agag, had this to say in 2016: Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said: “I have four children and the future of the planet depends on how we can control the effect that human life is having on the environment and the climate. That is why I think climate change is very important to address, to control, to face, and everyone can do something. We do something for motorsport, other people can do something from whatever they do in their lives.”

The devices were first implemented in Greenland but after seeing successful results they were also used at the Breioamerkurjokull and Fjallskokull glaciers in Iceland in 2017. The results showed that the Fjallskokull glacier front would be floating by 2029.

Formula E has mentioned this is just the beginning. It wont just be those two glaciers that get impacted by global warming. Consistent rising temperatures and a seemingly lack of emission regulations means it may not stop. Formula E and its teams are working everyday to improve global environmental conditions.

While emissions from cars only account for a fraction of the total carbon footprint, electric cars are an important step in the journey to clean energy. Fashion, agriculture, airlines, and cattle industries also have a long way to go; especially being some of the largest contributors to carbon emissions.

According to the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) transportation was accountable for 27% of U.S carbon emissions in 2010. Globally, the number for transportation was accountable for 14%. Agriculture and forestry took up a whopping 24% of global emissions. While these numbers will have changed by 2018, there is no doubt that these industries need to be more efficient.

The development of electric vehicles will lead to the further advancement of technology relatable to those industries. Formula E will continue to provide updates on ice cap movements while making improvements on the technology they use in competitions.