Envision Energy has unveiled India’s first race car constructed entirely from electronic waste. Called the Recover-E car, it was introduced at an event held at The Radio Club, Mumbai, in collaboration with EARTHDAY.ORG as part of their ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ campaign.
This is the second such car globally, the first having been launched at the London e-Prix in 2023. The Indian version has been built using discarded electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. The vehicle aims to demonstrate circularity in design and raise awareness about the increasing burden of e-waste in India.
According to RPV Prasad, Managing Director of Envision Energy India, the project reflects the company’s ongoing focus on sustainable innovation. James Mercer, Commercial Director of Envision Racing, described the vehicle as a statement on the scale of e-waste and the potential for reuse through innovation. Karuna Singh, Regional Director for Asia at EARTHDAY.ORG, emphasized the importance of such projects in promoting circular practices and clean energy.
India has recorded a 72.54% increase in e-waste over the past five years, rising from 1.01 million metric tonnes in 2019–20 to 1.751 million metric tonnes in 2023–24. This rise in e-waste, which often contains hazardous substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium, has serious environmental and health implications if not properly managed.
The launch event also featured a panel discussion on the intersection of energy, sustainability, and the arts. Speakers included Arushi Nishank, Bauddhayan Mukherji, Vinay Jain, Kounteya Sinha, and Shreya Ghodawat. The session focused on environmental storytelling and public engagement as tools for climate action. The evening concluded with a live performance by musician Prajna Dutta.
Design and fabrication of the car were carried out by the Vertex Research Centre in Palladam. The project is part of Envision Racing’s broader campaign to raise awareness of e-waste, particularly among young people. As part of this initiative, the company encourages actions like reducing electronic purchases, donating old devices, and seeking local recycling options.
Envision Energy continues to promote environmental responsibility through such projects. The company, which also operates in smart wind turbines, energy storage, and green hydrogen, achieved carbon neutrality in its operations by 2022 and targets complete value-chain neutrality by 2028.