BrandChannel.com: Virgin founder Richard Branson was in Miami this week to support the Virgin Racing team competing in Formula E, the world's first fully electric motor racing series and a spin-off of Formula 1, the world's most popular motor sport.
More than a chance to pursue his love of racing, he told Bloomberg TV (watch below) from the sidelines of the March 14 race that Virgin Racing engineers are researching and developing an electric car that might someday compete with fellow billionaire Elon Musk's Tesla brand.
As Branson wrote from the first Formula E event in the US, "I believe this sport is the future of motorsport, and electric cars are the future of motoring."
"We have teams of people working on electric cars," Branson told Bloomberg. "So you never know—you may find Virgin competing with the Tesla in the car business as we do in the space business. We will see what happens."
Hence the importance of the Formula ePrix for making electric cars cools. As he tweeted in reference to his rival, Elon Musk "is doing a great job for awareness & adoption of electric cars. Formula E will make electric cars sexy."
Branson elaborated in a blog post, "Until this point, electric cars haven’t been thought of as cool. Changing that perception is really important. The likes of Elon Musk at Tesla have done a great job in raising awareness and adaptation of electric cars. What this sport will do is make electric cars sexy."
With the Virgin logo already gracing planes, trains, spacecraft and ships, extending the brand to Virgin's first car fits with Branson's desire to use his companies to drive sustainability, renewable energy development, better modes of travel and (of course) innovation.
As he wrote in a blog post about the state of Miami banning the term "climate change" — "It was refreshing to see such a positive event being embraced in the state, with electric cars stimulating clean energy innovation. Miami is one of the many cities in the world facing up to a future that will be massively shaped by climate change."
"20 years from now, sooty cities could be a thing of the past, and the places we live could be far cleaner and safer. It was great seeing so many kids around at the Miami ePrix – hopefully the first car they buy will be an electric car. There will come a day when they look back and think we were mad to be wasting our time sat in dirty cars in traffic jams."
He also addressed critics who complained about the noise and traffic snarls during the event.
"The authorities in Miami were criticised in some quarters for agreeing to hold the race, especially as it meant closing roads on a busy weekend. However, as well as seeing the potential for a great event, they saw the long-term opportunity to contribute to a lasting positive change."
