Interview with Nyck de Vries
“We show that sustainability doesn’t have to be boring—it can be exciting and innovative.”
Nyck de Vries was born and raised in Sneek, Friesland. His passion for motorsport runs in the family—his father raced, managed a racing team, and ran car dealerships. It’s in his genes, and from a young age, he dreamed of reaching Formula 1. He achieved that dream, but his focus is now on Formula E and the World Endurance Championship. He is currently racing in his fourth Formula E season, after a short break, and he is thrilled to be back.
What do Arnhem Electricity Week and you have in common?
Arnhem Electricity Week and my work in Formula E share certain ambitions and characteristics. Both revolve around the energy transition and sustainability. In motorsport, innovation and development are our driving forces. We develop, create, and test technologies for the future—not only to make progress but also to outperform the competition. Every weekend, we’re under pressure to deliver and compete against our rivals.
How do you view the energy transition, both professionally and personally?
For me, the energy transition is about moving toward cleaner energy as a society. It’s not only relevant in my work but also in everyday life. Ultimately, it’s about reducing CO2 emissions and improving the climate. At the same time, I believe we need to set realistic goals. Some ambitions lack proper grounding and need to be adjusted along the way. Change takes time, but we all bear responsibility for future generations.
A significant part of this is raising awareness. We need to keep talking, promoting, and communicating about it. It’s also about teaching people how they can contribute, whether that’s by using energy more efficiently or by making better choices. Helping people understand how they can play a role in driving change is essential.
What role does Formula E play in this?
Formula E is an excellent platform for raising awareness and promoting sustainability. Everything we develop, from electric motors to more efficient energy management techniques like regenerative braking, helps improve electric cars for consumers. Since we all use the same battery in Formula E, our focus is on optimizing other technologies, such as software and energy management. Advancing electric mobility is an ongoing process, and we are still in the early stages.
What do you see as the biggest challenges for electric mobility?
The greatest gains can be made in battery technology and infrastructure. Battery development has not progressed quickly enough, even though it’s crucial—both for Formula E and beyond. During races, energy management is a critical factor, and smart software, such as load management, plays a key role in using energy more efficiently. Infrastructure is also a significant challenge. Electric driving is perfect for urban transport, but for long distances, other solutions, such as hydrogen, are needed.
How can these challenges be overcome?
Electric driving is undoubtedly a solution, but we need to have realistic expectations. It’s not feasible for all trucks to go electric within ten years. For urban transport and commuting, electric vehicles work brilliantly, but we need a combination of technologies to continue advancing sustainability.
How does Formula E inspire young talent to contribute?
Inspiring young talent is at the core of our championship’s DNA. We show that sustainability can be exciting, innovative, and challenging. Young fans see that electric racing can be just as emotional and intense as traditional motorsport. For my generation, electric driving has already become much more normalized, which greatly helps accelerate the acceptance of sustainability.
How do you see the future of motorsport?
I believe alternative technologies, such as hydrogen and hybrid systems, will become increasingly important. Innovation and experimentation remain essential. Hydrogen will be introduced in Le Mans in 2028, and Formula 1 will use more powerful electric motors starting in 2026. While Formula 1 likely won’t go fully electric, a mix of technologies, including e-fuels, offers interesting possibilities.
What does Arnhem Electricity Week mean for visitors?
Arnhem Electricity Week contributes to awareness, visibility, and innovation. It highlights that sustainability plays a role in every field, even in motorsport, which historically hasn’t been associated with environmental consciousness. Innovation and small improvements make sustainability not only important but also fun and motivating. That is the key to embracing change.
