Torqeedo supports Greta Thunberg on sea voyage
Torqeedo is supporting climate activist Greta Thunberg on her zero-carbon travels to the upcoming UN climate summits in New York and Chile. The 16-year-old Swedish activist is on board the Malizia II, a racing yacht. Torqueedo adds its electric port and harbour vessels.
As there are not yet purely electric ships that can cross the Atlantic, Thunberg is using the only zero-emissions travel option – the initiator of the Friday’s for Future movement will have to spend two weeks on a sailing boat. However, the Malizia II yacht is fitted with solar panels and underwater turbines that produce electricity on board, to make the journey zero-carbon.
To avoid using the sailing boats small onboard engine entirely, Torqeedo will assist Team Malizia with docking, towing, passenger transport and general harbour support. Torqeedo claims that driving a with a single 80-horsepower outboard for one hour emits as much pollution as more than 350 automobiles driving at highway speed for the same amount of time.
The non-profit Atmosfair estimates that a round trip between the UK to New York per plane contributes roughly 3.4 metric tons of CO2 per passenger to the atmosphere. According to Eurostat, that is equivalent to almost half the entire yearly carbon footprint per person in the EU (7.2 tons). CEO and co-founder, Dr Christoph Ballin says “We strongly support Team Malizia and the work they do and are thrilled to play a part in helping them complete their mission”.
Pierre Casiraghi, the founder of Team Malizia and co-skipper, said: “Team Malizia and I are proud to take Greta across the Atlantic in this challenging mode of transport. Unfortunately, sailing is still the only way to do so without fossil fuel emissions. Hopefully, this will change in the near future.” Stay tuned.
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