‘Track to road’, net zero carbon, fun racing: is Formula E delivering? Premium

The Hindu explores how after nine seasons since its inception Formula E has progressed, and the challenges it faces.

Even as governments worldwide are starting to fix a sunset date for internal combustion engine (ICE) cars over the next few decades, motorsport runs primarily on these gas-guzzling engines. In their quest for maximum performance, the traditional ICEs that power these mean racing machines are also the least efficient in terms of fuel mileage.  

Even though electric vehicles (EVs) have been around for a while, mass adoption of these automobiles has taken off just a few years ago. Several reasons exist for EVs’ slow acceptance, which includes a lack of charging points, range anxiety (the worry that the battery charge will not last the distance) and a more simplistic belief that these vehicles lack the sense of fun associated with speed and power.

So in 2011, the then FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag conceived an all-electric single-seater series to promote electric mobility and show that an EV can be fast and fun. Another aim was the creation of an avenue for major automobile manufacturers to use motorsport to accelerate the development of EVs. 

Since its first season in 2014-15, Formula E has evolved gradually. Its ninth season will conclude next month. So, how much progress has the series made, relative to its founding ideals?

Manufacturers have certainly flocked to the sport since its inception. One of the main reasons a manufacturer enters a new series is the transfer of technologies. Road relevance is a key attraction, the aspect that justifies the big budgets needed to run a full-fledged motorsport programme. Formula E has tried to maintain a primary focus on this area. 

In terms of technology, this year saw the most advanced electric racing car to date: a Gen3 car with an increased power output of 350kW, significantly higher than the Gen 2 car’s 250kW.

In an electric car, one of the tools to maximise power output efficiency is the software. It has proved to be a performance differentiator across the teams and something manufacturers can take to their road cars.