BMW i8 Drivers & Bertrand Piccard Anticipate RTW Solar Flight

Originally published on 1Sun4All.

As the world waits with breath that is bated for the attempt by Solar Impulse 2 to set a new world record, in a field they are establishing — the first Round-The-World flight in an aircraft without one drop of fuel — Bertrand Piccard, President, initiator, and one of the pilots of Solar Impulse, and also Initiator of the Breitling Orbiter project and captain of the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight, teamed up with BMW to promote pioneering spirit.

Since we cannot change the character of the human being, let us make an effort to adapt to the way he functions. Let us try to give him a personal interest to get into the way of thinking in terms of sustainable development. Let us prove that we are dealing with an enormous new market with all sorts of economic and political outlets for those who understand how to invest in it in time. Let us point out the scientific interests, favor the pioneering spirit, let us promote a new fashion, in the positive sense of the word, which will enable renewable energy users to be held in admiration. It could quickly become out of fashion, even frowned upon, to consume too much petrol, to heat or cool down private or public places for no good reason or to consume non-recyclable products. —Solar Impulse 2004.

According to BMW, at its Leipzig, Germany, location, the BMW Group launched a world-first programme for extended dialogue with customers. The celebrity guest at the first event at the birthplace of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car was Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland, one of the greatest adventurers of our time. The visionary talked to 120 or so attendees about his quest to become the first person to circumnavigate the earth in a solar-powered aircraft.

BMW i8 owners are among the pioneers of a new era of driving pleasure defined by sustainability. BMW eDrive plug-in hybrid drive technology, a passenger cell made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), innovative mobility services, and laser headlights – available for the first time on a production model – all help cement the status of the BMW Group’s first plug-in hybrid model as a sports car of the future.