Sushil Reddy becomes an 80 Day Race ambassador

Sushil Reddy, founder of the Sun Pedal Ride, Guinness World Record holder for riding a solar bike across India, has become an 80 Day Race ambassador. His excitement for the opportunities of renewable energy and his determination to promote sustainable mobility convinced him to support this sustainable race around the world.

In the summer of 2016 Sushil Reddy set out to talk to the people across India about solar energy by touring on a solar powered electric bicycle. With a team comprising of Krunal Tailor, Himanshu Singh and Rajendra Bhaskar, they went on a journey across north west India passing through 9 states/union territories and 7500 kilometres while interacting with people in the cities, villages and towns on the route. Sushil Reddy earned a recognition in the Guinness and Limca Book of World Records for the longest journey on a solar powered electric bicycle.

In Sushil’s words – “We plan to take this movement to reach out to as many people as we can and educate people about solar energy and sustainability which is the need of the hour”.

Since then Sushil has cycled across France, the United States and circumnavigated Iceland, engaging with people along the way, encouraging them to move towards renewable energy and highlighting the solar energy scenario in India.

Sharing a similar goal to promote clean mobility, teams competing in 80 Day Race will race 40,000 km solely with vehicles that don’t consume fossil fuel. The project is inspired by Jules Verne’s famous book ‘Around the world in 80 days’, betting that new means of transportation make it possible to achieve this challenge. The race will start in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Once underway, the competitors are free to choose their own route to circumnavigate the globe between eight major cities in which events will take place, such as an electric vehicle parade, an educational programme and trade shows. The teams will visit the Le Mans track just before they depart on their final sprint back to Paris.

Sushil Reddy, founder of the Sun Pedal Ride, said:

“I personally believe that projects like 80 Day Race are very important today to ensure faster adoption of sustainable electric mobility across the world. I support 80 Day Race since it is a unique adventure to prove the merit of electric vehicles and make them accessible for common people via educational programs and awareness events.”

Frank Manders, co-founder and General Director at 80 Day Race, said:

“Sushil Reddy epitomizes some of the core ideas of 80 Day Race. He embraced new sustainable technology and created his own adventure. He proves that a new adventure can bring people together, inspire them and encourage them to make changes themselves. We are delighted that he wants to support our message.”

80 Day Race is in discussion with global partners, constructors, cities, local promoters and media partners to set a date for the start of the race. The city of Paris has already embraced the event; of where it will depart.

Other ambassadors who are committed to 80 Day Race are: Bertrand Piccard (chairman and pilot of Solar Impulse), Hubert Auriol (Three-time Dakar Rally winner and former race director), Michael, Sebastiaan & Jeroen Bleekemolen (entrepreneurs and racing drivers), Charley Boorman (modern-day adventurer), Albert Bosch (adventurer and electric Dakar Rally participant), Tim Coronel (Dutch racing driver with electric aspirations), Pierre Fillon (President of The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO)), Jan Lammers (former F1 driver and Le Mans 24 hours winner), Erik Lindbergh (electric aviation pioneer), Robert Llewellyn (British actor and e-mobility specialist), Louis Palmer (sustainability specialist), Claudio von Planta (award winning film director), Didier de Radiguès (former Grand Prix winner and lap record holder for electric motorcycles at Spa-Francorchamps) Javier de Rocafort (successful entrepreneur and strategic advisor), Maarten Steinbuch (Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology), Tom Touber (former COO and winner of the Volvo Ocean Race) and Eric Vigouroux (successful off-road racing driver and team manager).