Responding to the environmental challenge, ING Renault F1 has partnered up with Vectrix, the world’s leading manufacturer of high performance, zero emission electric motorcycles. A number of special edition ING Renault F1 Vectrix VX-1 bikes have been unveiled and deployed for the first time at the Barcelona Grand Prix to provide the most environmentally friendly on-site and shuttle transport for the drivers and the team at all Grand Prix events this season.

The Vectrix completely fractures any pre-conceived ideas about electric transport being slow or short-range. Its electric vehicle technology delivers rapid, clean, comfortable and attractively designed transport for commuting and recreational needs. The pioneering bikes run exclusively on battery power from its nickel metal hybrid battery and with an acceleration of 0-80km/h in 6.8 seconds and top speed of 100km/h, the Renault F1 team won’t be compromising on performance either.

Bob Bell, ING Renault F1 Team Technical Director comments, ‘As we are part of the Renault Group, we are very aware of our responsibility to make every possible effort to reduce and off-set our carbon emissions, and the Vectrix is an innovative and practical way to continue our policies. This is a great product: versatile, fast, attractive, cheap to run, and a most welcome and highly visible addition to our team at Grand Prix events.’

John Schnorr, Head of Vectrix Europe says, ‘We are very excited to be partnering with ING Renault F1 to demonstrate that electric vehicles are developed to a standard even fit for Formula One. Our bikes incorporate leading edge patented technology, such as our DAart™ regenerative breaking system, which is of course the equivalent to the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) - this season’s big story in motor sport technical development.’

The VX-1’s patented DAart™ system delivers additional range and power by capturing the energy created through the resistance produced from twisting back the throttle to slow down and brake. Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems are currently only in use in motorsport and still under development for road vehicles. The Vectrix is the first and only production road vehicle in the world to currently deploy this technology.

Other sophisticated design efficiencies of the Vectrix include a high-efficiency gearbox and drive train, aluminium construction for weight reduction and long life and aerodynamic styling to reduce drag.