Formula E, together with the FIA, has teased their “Gen3” racing car. The new car will make its racing debut for Season 9 of the series, set to take place in 2022 and 2023. Formula E says that the Gen3 represents the world’s most efficient racing car, which seems oddly similar to the new slogan over at F1. The competing FIA series recently revealed the tagline “The world’s most efficient engine,” focusing on using sustainable e-fuels for future racing rather than FE’s all-out battery-electric concept.
Regardless, the electric racing car has
some impressive headline figures and changes to the Formula car concept.
Perhaps the biggest news is the cars will now feature a front powertrain for
regenerative braking, which allows them to ditch hydraulic brakes on the rear
axle. The new front powertrain will add 250 kW from the front to the 350 kW
already at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capability of the
current Gen2 to a total of 600kW.
Not only will the Gen3 car be the
first-ever Formula car to have both front and rear powertrains, but at least 40
percent of the energy used within a race will be reclaimed from the braking
system. In theory, this should add a different dynamic to the racing, with
braking key to regenerating power that drivers could deploy throughout a race.
The new car will feature a boost in output, too, with the electric motor
delivering up to 350kw of power (470 bhp), up from the 335 bhp of the
Gen2. That’ll be good enough for a top speed of 320 km/h, while the
Gen3 will also be lighter and smaller than the car it replaces.
Other sustainable aspects of the car
include a “pioneering process” that will deliver 26 percent sustainable
materials into the composition of tires, while all carbon fiber parts will be
reused. Additionally, Gen3 cars will be net carbon zero, with all suppliers
held to strict sustainability KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). The design of
the Gen 3 has been inspired by “the aero-efficient delta wing of a fighter
jet.” One of the most significant changes from both a visual and racing
standpoint is the ditching of the front wheel covers. The covers had seen
drivers willing to risk contact thanks to the design’s added strength over a
more traditional Formula car.