Latin America’s first eco-friendly race takes off in Chile

Global Business

The north of Chile is one of the world’s most prized regions for solar energy.

To show off some of the latest technology and attract attention to this renewable source, the Atacama Solar Race is taking place this week.

CCTV America’s Joel Richards reports.

Gliding across the Atacama Desert, competitors in Latin America’s premier eco-friendly race will race solar powered vehicles. While they may share the sleek style and cutting edge technology of their Formula One cousins, they have none of the noise and, most importantly, none of the emissions.

This race runs down the coast of Chile and then up into the desert in total over 2,000 kilometers (1242.742 miles). Some of the vehicles taking part in this race are capable of reaching speeds of over 100 kph (62 mph).

But abiding by the laws of the land is just as much a part of this competition. In 2014, the fastest team finished second after points deductions for traffic violations.

More than 20 teams from across the world are taking part – some are fully solar powered and others are part-solar, part-pedal-powered vehicles.

This race highlights the advances and possibilities in solar technology, in a region that not only lives with its natural hazards, but also with its plentiful and prized natural resources.

This statistic displays the estimated size of the global solar photovoltaic market in 2015 and 2020, by country. In 2020, it is expected that France will have increased its solar energy market to 2.29 gigawatts.

This statistic displays the estimated size of the global solar photovoltaic market in 2015 and 2020, by country. In 2020, it is expected that France will have increased its solar energy market to 2.29 gigawatts.