IPF Discusses Clean Mobility for Antarctica in Monaco
On December 14th, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Monegasque car manufacturer Venturi co-organized the conference “Antarctica 1911-2011” to commemorate the centenary of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen’s successful attempt to reach the South Pole. The event was held at the Oceanography Museum of Monaco under the high patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and in presence of SEM Michel Rocard, French Ambassador for the Poles.
Prior to the conference, IPF Executive Director Thierry Touchais joined with representatives and experts from various organizations to discuss clean mobility solutions in Antarctica. In partnership with the IPF, Venturi is currently developing a vehicle for Antarctic in-field operations. The “Venturi Antarctica” will take the “zero emission” operations of the Princess Elisabeth Station one step further by integrating into the station’s technologically advanced smart grid and allowing the scientists to head into the field “emissions free”. A first test campaign of the vehicle is planned for the 2013-2014 season.
Opening up to the public in the afternoon, the conference started with the projection of the documentary “Antarctique 2011 – Objectif Pôle Sud”. On the occasion of this centenary, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco addressed the descendants of polar explorers Scott and Amundsen. A link was then established with Alain Hubert, President of the International Polar Foundation and of the Belgian Polar Secretariat, currently managing the operations for the season at the Princess Elisabeth Station. Rounding up the conference, Venturi President Gildo Pallanca Pastor and Florence Lambert, responsible for the battery and fuel cell program at the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), presented the “Venturi Antarctica” program.