Formula E and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) dropped the first look at the third-generation electric racecar that will make its debut in Season 9 of the World Championship. FIA President Jean Todt described the Formula E Gen3 race car as "a machine created at the intersection of high performance, efficiency and sustainability." The Gen3 was presented under top-security conditions to an exclusive group of Formula E manufacturers, teams, drivers and partners in Valencia, Spain. The cars will be handed to teams and manufacturers by mid-2022 following further intensive development testing on and off the track.
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Speaking at the reveal of the Gen3 car, Jean Todt, FIA President, said, "The new Gen3 Formula E single-seater is a car created at the intersection of high performance, efficiency and sustainability. The work accomplished by the FIA's teams together with Formula E, since the launch of the discipline eight seasons ago, tirelessly seek to drive innovation and further the development of sustainable mobility. I have no doubt that this new single-seater will elevate Formula E to the next level."
At least 40% of the energy used within a race will be produced by regenerative braking on the Gen3 car
Jamie Reigle, Formula E CEO, said, "In designing the Gen3 car, we set out to demonstrate that high performance, efficiency and sustainability can co-exist without compromise. Together with the FIA, we have built the world's most efficient and sustainable high-performance race car. The Gen3 is our fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient racing car yet. It is a creature designed for its habitat: racing on city streets in wheel-to-wheel combat. We look forward to witnessing it inspire and excite the next generation of motorsport fans in cities around the world from Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship."
Formula E further revealed that at least 40 per cent of the energy used within a race will be produced by regenerative braking on the Gen3 car. It will also be the first formula car with a powertrain at the front and rear. The new front powertrain adds 250 kW to the 350 kW motor at the rear, which more than doubles the regenerative capability over the current Gen2 to a total of 600 kW. It will also be the first formula car to not feature rear hydraulic brakes due to the addition of the front powertrain.
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The tyres, broken parts and battery cells from the Gen3 car will be recycled for a second life
The 350 kW electric motor develops about 470 bhp and is capable of a top speed of 320 kmph. The power-to-weight ratio would be exceptional considering the Gen3 car is lighter and smaller than the current Gen2 machine. This enables better acceleration and more wheel-to-wheel action.
Formula E has also developed the car around sustainability with a thought-out process for enabling a second life and end of life for tyres, broken parts and battery cells. The Gen3 cars will also be net-zero carbon, in line with the championship's net-zero carbon discipline. Furthermore, all carbon fibre broken parts will be recycled by an innovative process from the aviation and aerospace industry into new fibres reusable for other applications. A pioneering process will deliver 26 per cent sustainable materials into the composition of tyres.
Formula E further says that the Gen3 car is powered by electric motors that are substantially more efficient than petrol-powered cars as they can convert over 90 per cent of the electrical energy into mechanical energy compared to about 40 per cent in high-efficiency cars. The Formula E Season 8 meanwhile starts in January 2022.
