It's Formula E for me!
10 years of improvement
While the Formula E World Championship is just nine seasons old, the on-track technology is ever-evolving.
Formula E has come a long way in less than 10 seasons. Astronomical leaps in electric car performance and the revolutionary leap from GEN1, GEN2 and GEN3 - and on to the world's fastest most sustainable electric race car ever, the GEN3 Evo - brings motorsport entertainment to the electric age. While the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is just nine full seasons old, the on-track technology is ever-evolving. Formula E has come a long way since its debut back in 2014.10 years of improvement
In season one, Formula E ushered in a revolution with the all-electric open-wheel GEN1 car - a first of its kind in motorsport. In the nine short years since, enthusiasts waved goodbye to that initial era of mid-race car swaps and welcomed the next step-change in technology for Formula E with GEN2 by season five. More power and almost twice the usable energy capacity, effectively doubling range despite its battery being about the same size and weight as its predecessor.
From GEN1 to GEN2, as well as a huge jump in energy capacity, pace and performance kicked up a notch, too. Power output jumped from 150kW to 200kW in race trim between season one and season seven, with Attack Mode yielding a further 10kW and Qualifying Mode boosting power to 250kW. This shaved 0.2 seconds off the zero to 100 kilometres-per-hour sprint, which was reduced to 2.8 seconds - pushing top speed up to 280kmph from 225kmph.
For season eight and GEN2's swan song, power was increased to a baseline 220kW with Attack Mode hitting the maximum output of the second era at 250kW or 335bhp.
Season nine saw Formula E's third great leap and the GEN3 era. The all-new GEN3 car was the most efficient race car on the planet, with some 40% of the energy it expends recaptured for use through the rear and a new front powertrain, for up to 600kW total energy regeneration.
Records tumble
We've already seen Formula E records tumble in season nine - even as teams are only beginning to scratch the surface of what's possible with the all-new equipment they have at hand. Nissan's Sacha Fenestraz became the fastest man in Formula E with laps in Cape Town and Portland - both debut entries on the calendar. Season nine champion Jake Dennis then took the honour of fastest over a lap with his Duels time in Oregon. That same weekend, we also saw Mitch Evans set the series' highest ever top speed.
"GEN3 brings a host of innovations, but we’re still committed to going a step beyond. We’re already thinking of the evolution we can bring through the four-year cycle," then-FIA technical manager and GEN3 project lead Alessandra Ciliberti said after the GEN3 launch in Monaco in 2022.
"We’re investigating using the front powertrain kit in traction as well as regen to allow for four-wheel drive in specific scenarios, and then looking even further to GEN4 we have to ensure Formula E remains at the forefront as the laboratory for future mobility," he said.
Already running
As it happens, the first use of the front powertrain in traction came thanks to GENBETA's Guinness World Record-smashing effort in London last year. The GENBETA car featured a range of modifications to effectively ‘unlock’ the specifications of the GEN3 race car, including enhanced battery power output of 400kW, up from 350kW in the GEN3, through the activation of the front powertrain kit in traction, delivering all-wheel drive for the first time in a Formula E car.
Leveraging a roster of innovative technical upgrades, the GEN3 Evo was unveiled at Prince Albert II’s private car collection and will debut in season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Developed by specialists from Formula E and the FIA, the latest GEN3 Evo edition boasts acceleration from zero to 60mph 30% faster than a current F1 car, and 36% faster than the GEN3 car. Capable of accelerating nearly a full second faster than its predecessor – the GEN3, which was the world’s first race car designed for street racing - it sets an even higher standard in performance, sustainability and efficiency.
The GEN3 Evo serves as a formidable ambassador for the future of motorsport, embodying cutting-edge advancements and a commitment to environmental responsibility.
- fiaformulae.com