Extreme E records 8.2% decrease in overall carbon footprint in 2023

• 2023 saw a notable increase in green hydrogen and solar power usage
• Female-male performance gap reduced to just 1.5 seconds
• Audience was 34% female in 2023, compared to industry average of 10%

All-electric off-road SUV championship Extreme E recorded an 8.2 per cent decrease in its overall carbon footprint last season.

This figure headlined the series’ third annual sustainability report, released in conjunction with sustainability partner EY, and equates to an average of 8,301 tonnes of CO2e emitted per race, which is an industry-leading measurement.

By comparison, Formula One sits at 256,000 CO2e during a season and Formula E emits 33,800 CO2e.

Extreme E was aided in its sustainability efforts by a multi-million-pound refurbishment of the St Helena – the series’ floating headquarters that also transports the vehicles from race to race – to ensure it is as energy efficient as possible.

The series also overhauled its energy sources in 2023, with green hydrogen fuel supplying 30 per cent of its energy needs (up from between five and ten per cent in 2022) and flexible solar panel systems accounting for 20 per cent.

By next season, Extreme E hopes to transition to a model where 75 per cent or more of the site’s energy demands are sourced from hydrogen fuel cells.

• ‘Extreme E is not ending, it’s getting better’: Ali Russell clarifies the series’ hydrogen-powered future
• ‘We are making steps, but we are not there yet’: Analysing the state of play for women in motorsport

The series has also made considerable strides in providing an equal platform for both male and female drivers to compete. This is reflected in the Extreme E workforce, of which 37 per cent are women.

The performance gap between male and female drivers has also reduced by an average of 51 per cent since Extreme E’s first season, with the average gap now just 1.5 seconds. Extreme E attributes this success to the ‘equal access to track time and performance development’.

Equal opportunities on-track has seen heightened interest off-track. More than a third (34 per cent) of the series’ audience are women, an increase from 29 per cent last season.

This ratio compares favourably with the 90 per cent male and 10 per cent female split across the wider motorsport industry and highlights the importance of visibility in encouraging diversity.