Formula E chiefs are convinced the forthcoming launch of the electric car racing championship will have a “huge impact” on the acceleration of EV development.
Ten teams, many featuring well-known previous Formula 1 drivers such as Bruno Senna, Nick Heidfeld and Jarno Trulli, are due to compete in a ten-race series starting in Beijing in September.
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The significance of Beijing to kick-start the championship will not be lost on those looking to promote the benefits of electric powertrains, as China is currently battling to overcome major pollution problems with its population using increasing numbers of internal combustion engine cars.
“The race in Beijing – which is a fantastic city – it also symbolises the problem with pollution,” Formula E Holdings CEO, Alejandro Agag, told just-auto at the operation’s headquarters at Donnington race track in the UK’s Midlands region.
“If it [championship] succeeds, it can have a huge impact on electric car making.”
The Formula E chief stressed his race series was not in competition with the existing Formula 1 version, with all ten teams featuring the four Spark-Renault SRT-01E Formula E cars, two per driver, with the vehicles and operations based at a purpose built central workshop at Donington Park, part of a number of steps to reduce overall running costs.
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By GlobalData“We are not in competition with Formula 1 – I am a big fan of Formula 1,” said Agag. “Whoever wants to compete with F1 will fail and we don’t like to fail.
“I am convinced [of Formula E success]. If you ask me am I sure, you can never be sure.”
From season two Formula E will become an ‘open championship’ allowing teams to design and develop their own cars – in accordance to technical specifications set out by the FIA – and showcasing their electrical energy innovations in a competitive, racing environment.
Michelin will supply all teams with its Pilot Sport EV 18″ tyres, which can be used in both wet and dry conditions,
One potentially controversial element of Formula E races is the ‘Fanboost,” where three drivers with most votes prior to a race, will receive a 2.5sec power increase, temporarily increasing energy from 133kw (180bhp) to 200kw (270bhp).
Votes can be cast online as well as on Formula E’s Facebook, Twitter and Sina Weibo pages, as well as via the official app, which launches on 1 September.
