At a recent rally in the Canary Islands, a silent electric car took the official 'zero car' role, challenging expectations that it would lag behind gas-powered racers. The 'cero emisiones, cero excusas' project, launched by the regional government and the Federación Canaria de Automovilismo, aims to put 100% electric cars basic to rallying as official zero cars, ElDesmarque reports.
Old ideas about electric cars being slow or weak look misplaced here. The current Opel-based electric rally car has already completed full rally stages, recharging with portable chargers during regroupings and service stops. Mariano Hernández Zapata, the Canary Islands' ecological transition councillor, says even veteran drivers have been surprised by its performance. "We have shown we can compete head-to-head in a rally, covering the entire mileage," he said. Hernández Zapata told ElDesmarque the basic goal is to show electric vehicles can meet the full demands of high-speed rallying, beyond eco-friendly events.
Some drivers who tried the car were struck by its speed and reliability. Laura Aparicio, a rally driver and Spain's absolute hybrid car champion for 2025, put it simply: "It's wild how that thing accelerates." The project challenges the idea that electrification and motorsport cannot mix. National motorsport figures have backed the effort, too. Juan Esteve Aguilar from the Real Federación Española de Automovilismo has voiced support, showing the buzz is spreading beyond the islands.
Plans are underway for a dedicated electric cup in the Canary Islands Rally Championship next season. The electric prototype took second place at the Subida de El Hierro and packs over 340 horsepower. That result has given the project more momentum. Still, not everyone is ready to let go of the old ways. Hernández Zapata admits fans often ask for more noise. He stands firm: the technology is here to stay and belongs on the starting line.
This campaign reaches beyond engineering. The 'zero car' changes its look at every event and doubles as a rolling billboard for social causes. In March, for International Women's Day, it carried the names of all female license holders on its hood. Since then, it has highlighted rural issues and Earth Day. Its current campaign backs cancer research with the Asociación Española contra el Cáncer. The car has become a moving symbol of change, standing out both on and off the track.
ElDesmarque and HelloCanaryIslands report that the electric rally car already takes part in the official calendar of various Canary Islands events, as the region combines motorsport with energy-transition strategies. Environmental sustainability also features in the organization of local rallies. The 65th Gran Canaria Island Rally, for example, features a new 61.82 km timed stage.
The Canary Islands are not the only ones betting on electric mobility. As reported earlier, Spain's electric vehicle sector is drawing billions in investment, while energy giants and automakers race to adapt. The rally project puts electrification to the test in one of the toughest settings: real motorsport.
This initiative puts electric cars central to rallying. The Canary Islands are making a clear case: motorsport's future will depend on performance and flexibility. The results so far are clear. Electric vehicles are ready for the road and capable of reaching the podium.
