Special Motorsports Event - EEMS Accelerate Electric Sportscars Thrill RAC Future Car Challenge

London, Nov. 10, 2011: EEMS Accelerate's stunning electric vehicles have once again demonstrated their prowess and popularity at the recent RAC Future Car Challenge and Regent Street Motorshow. EEMS Accelerate was represented in the 60-mile Brighton to London challenge by Delta Motorsport and Lightning Car Company, two of the organisations in the consortium led by specialist energy, climate change and environmental consultancy AEA and also including Ecotricity and Westfield Sports Cars.

The consortium is one of eight which have received part-funding from the government's Technology Strategy Board under their £25M Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles Demonstrator programme.

In a clear indication that there is a potential market for sporty electric vehicles, the Delta E4 Coupe came away from the show with the attending public's winning vote for Favourite Future Car. No wonder that "Grand Designs" TV presenter Kevin McCloud - renowned for matching his keen eye for design with a passion for eco efficiency - chose to drive one of the two competing Deltas, courtesy of the RAC Foundation, in the challenge.

The public choice award was presented by Sir David Prosser, Chairman of The Royal Automobile Club, along with Sally Boazman (aka Sally Traffic) from BBC Radio 2. Delta Motorsport's Managing Director Simon Dowson said: "It is great to receive recognition from the public. We have worked hard to demonstrate that electric vehicles can be a significant, and stylish, part of our motoring future."

Praising the Technology Strategy Board's Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles Demonstrator programme, Dowson said: "Without their support, this would not have been possible."

The Lightning GT, meanwhile, was also a favourite with the event's VIP guests, being the vehicle of choice to travel to the Brighton start line for RAC Foundation Chairman David Quarmby. The stunning car was then driven in the challenge itself from Brighton to London by David Bott, the Technology Strategy Board's Director of Innovation Programmes and Iain Sanderson, Chairman of the Lightning Car Company.

Speaking about his experience in the event, which challenged more than 65 low-emissions vehicles to drive from Brighton to London using the least amount of energy, David Bott commented: "Many people equate Low Carbon Vehicles with small battery powered city cars, with the kind of engine performance and handling that you would expect from such a vehicle. The high performance cars in the rally and delivered as part of the EEMS Accelerate project are designed to rival other non-EV cars in their class. They offer the kind of high-end driving experience which will eventually make these kinds of vehicles an attractive alternative to similar fossil fuel powered cars."

EEMS Accelerate consortium leaders AEA were thrilled with the results of last Saturday's event, which also featured a Delta E4 Coupe, Lightning GT and Westfield Sport E on display as part of the event's packed-out Regent Street Motorshow. The vehicles caught the attention of thousands of passers-by, fellow competitors and motoring enthusiasts, including His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent, who was present in his role as President of The Royal Automobile Club.