On 22nd August 2008, Formula Zero, the new zero emission race series, will launch the world's first international championship for fuel cell powered racers. The world premiere of the 2008 Formula Zero Championship will take place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The launch of this world premiere comes at a time when the automotive industry is revving up for the commercialization of fuel cell powered cars, and the oil price is at an all time high.

Teams from top international universities, including Delft University of Technology, Lawrence Tech Detroit and Imperial College London, have designed and built their own hydrogen fuel cell racers to compete in the 2008 Formula Zero Championship. They will compete for the fastest lap time on the Formula Zero mobile race track, at different high profile locations around the world.

World Premiere in Rotterdam
The world premiere of the 2008 Formula Zero Championship will take place on
Willemsplein in Rotterdam on 22nd and 23rd August 2008. The Vice-Mayor of Rotterdam, Mark Harbers, explains that by being the first city to host the Formula Zero Championship 'Rotterdam is supporting sustainable mobility and demonstrating that this is really possible'. The Formula Zero Championship event will be open to the general public, providing the opportunity to experience fuel cell racing and learn more about this zero emission technology.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Racing
The six teams competing in the Championship each received a Hydrogenics HyPM8 fuel cell from Formula Zero, financed with the support of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative. Unlike conventional engines, fuel cells produce electricity by reacting hydrogen fuel, stored in a pressurized tank, with oxygen taken from the air, so water is the only exhaust product.