Formula E is a ground-breaking FIA single-seater championship and the world’s first fully-electric racing series.
The inaugural season began in Beijing in September 2014, ending in London in June 2015, with the series competing in 10 of the world’s leading cities. The championship sees nine teams, each with two drivers, racing on temporary city-centre circuits to create a unique and exciting race series designed to appeal to a new generation of motorsport fans.
Formula E aims to represent a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a framework for R&D around the electric vehicle, accelerating general interest in these cars and promoting clean energy and sustainability.
Formula E also operates as an ‘open championship’, allowing teams and manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their own electrical energy innovations. Working to the technical specifications set out by the FIA, teams will focus their efforts on improving and developing powertrains and battery technology, with the aim of this filtering into the everyday electric vehicle market.
The championship centres around three core values of Energy, Environment and Entertainment and is a fusion of engineering, technology, sport, science, design, music and entertainment – all combining to drive the change towards an electric future.
In the first season of Formula E, all 10 teams used identical single-seater cars – designed and built by Spark Racing Technology (Spark-Renault SRT_01E) together with the expertise from McLaren, Williams, Dallara, Renault and Michelin.
For season two, Formula E becomes an open championship allowing teams, and manufacturers, to develop their cars. This will begin with the development of new powertrain solutions – incorporating the e-motor, inverter and transmission – with future regulation changes allowing for battery development.
The Spark-Renault SRT_01E – the first car to be homologated by the FIA – has been built by French company Spark Racing Technology, led by Frédéric Vasseur, together with a consortium of some of the leading companies in motorsport. Italian firm Dallara, who boast more than 40 years’ motorsport experience, have constructed the monocoque chassis. Made from carbon fibre and aluminium, the chassis is both super lightweight and incredibly strong and fully complies with the latest FIA crash tests – the same used to regulate Formula One.
Providing the electric powertrain and electronics is McLaren Electronics Systems, the world leader in high-performance technology for motorsport. Meanwhile, Williams Advanced Engineering, part of the Williams group of companies that includes the world famous Williams F1 Team, will supply the batteries producing 200kw, the equivalent of 270bhp. This will be linked to a five-speed paddle shift sequential gearbox, supplied by Hewland, with fixed ratios to help reduce costs further.
Overseeing all the systems integration will be the championship’s Technical Partner Renault, a leader of electric vehicles and an expert in motorsport thanks to its Renault Sport Technologies and Renault Sport F1 programmes. Specially designed 18″ treaded tyres will be supplied by Official Tyre Partner Michelin, capable of providing optimum performance in both wet and dry conditions.
Design
- Aerodynamics optimised to facilitate overtaking
- High ride height sensitivity and wide range of suspension set up possibilities to tackle the city centre streets
- Cost effectiveness
- Compliant to FIA safety regulations
Technology
- Use of latest technology, pushing the boundaries for the future
- Compromise between performance and cost effectiveness wherever possible
- Extensive use of composite materials but limited usage of the most expensive carbon fibres
Dimensions
- Overall length: 5000mm (max)
- Overall width: 1800mm (max)
- Overall height: 1250mm (max)
- Track width: 1300mm (min)
- Ride Height: 75mm (max)
- Minimum weight (inc driver): 888kg (batteries 320kg)
Power
- Maximum power: 200kw, equivalent to 270bhp
- Race mode (power-saving): 150kw, equivalent to 202.5bhp
- FanBoost (race-only): Temporarily increases max power from 150kw to 180kw. (Increase of 30kw / 40.5bhp)
Maximum power will be available during practice and qualifying sessions. During races, power-saving mode will apply with the FanBoost system temporarily allowing maximum power for a limited time of 5 secs per car.
The amount of energy that can be delivered to the MGU by the RESS is limited to 28kwh. This will be permanently monitored by the FIA.
Performance
- Acceleration: 0 – 100 km/h (0-62mph) in 3 secs
- Maximum speed: 225 km/h (140mph)
Power unit
- MGU by McLaren
- Maximum of two MGU’s allowed
- MGU’s must be linked only to the rear axle
- The use of traction control is forbidden
Traction battery
- The traction battery is a Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) and supplies electric energy to the Power Circuit and thus to the traction motor. Any onboard battery electrically connected to the Power Circuit is considered to be an integral part of the vehicle’s traction battery
RESS
- A Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) is a system that is designed to propel the car via the electric motor. In order to comply they must be:
– FIA Standard
– The maximum weight of the Battery Cells and/or Capacitor of the RESS must not be higher than 200kgs
– All Battery Cells must be certified to UN Transportation Standards as a minimum requirement
Chassis
- Chassis / Survival cell – Carbon/aluminium honeycomb structure made by Dallara
- Front and rear wing – Carbon structures and Aero styling by Dallara
- Bodywork – Carbon – Kevlar honeycomb structures made by Dallara
Gearbox
- Hewland paddle-shift five-speed sequential gearbox
- Fixed gear ratios to reduce costs
Brakes
- Standard two separate Hydraulic systems, operated by the same pedal
- Brake material is free choice
- Calipers; the section of each caliper piston must be circular
The body of the callipers must be made from aluminium alloy
Wheels & tyres
- Bespoke 18″ treaded Michelin tyres for use on both wet and dry conditions/surfaces
- Championship specific wheel dimensions
- O.Z. Racing Magnesium rims. Max width front – 260mm / rear 305mm. Max Diameter – front 650mm / rear 690mm
Electronics
- McLaren Electronics ECU/GCU including data logging system
- Power supply management unit
- CAN data acquisition pre-equipment
- FIA Marshalling system
- Beacon receiver
- Telemetry is not permitted
Suspension
- Double steel wishbones, pushrod operated, twin dampers and torsion bars suspension (front) and spring suspension (rear)
- Adjustable ride height, camber and toe
- Two way (front) / Four way (rear) adjustable Koni dampers
- Adjustable anti-roll bar (front/rear)
Steering system
- Non assisted rack and pinion steering system (power assistance is allowed)
- Steering wheel with dashboard, marshalling display, gear change and clutch paddles
Safety
- FIA safety standards including: front, side, rear and steering column impact tests
- Front and rear roll hoop, impact structures and monocoque push tests
- Anti-intrusion survival cell protection panels
- Wheel retainer safety cables
- Extinguisher system (electronically operated)
Formula E knows that the noise of any racing car is very important to its fans, which is why the sound of the new Spark-Renault SRT_01E will be one of the championship’s most unique and exciting features. Contrary to popular belief, the Formula E cars are far from silent producing a modern, futuristic sound, combined with the fusion of the tyres on the track, the car’s aero package and the electric drivetrain itself.
At high speed the sound produced by one SRT_01E will be approximately 80 decibels, more than an average petrol road car which produces around 70db.
Tyres are one of the most crucial elements in modern day motorsport which is why Formula E has chosen leading French company Michelin as its Official Tyre Partner for the first three seasons.
Drawing upon its many years’ of experience, Michelin has developed a bespoke 18-inch treaded tyre that is unique to Formula E and usable in both wet and dry conditions. Michelin will supply tyres that will not only deliver exciting racing but also cope with the demands of the abrasive street circuits and all-weather conditions.
To aid with sustainability and cost-saving, the Michelin tyres will also be extremely durable and able to last throughout an entire race event. As such, each driver will be supplied with just one set of tyres. The team will also have one front and rear tyre carried over from the previous race.
Michelin is the world’s largest tyre manufacture and as well as boasting a long and impressive motorsport pedigree, it is also highly committed to sustainable mobility and improving safety on our roads.
As with all FIA championships, safety remains of paramount importance to Formula E in all aspects from the Spark-Renault SRT_01E car, right through to promoting good driving practices to fans.
The SRT_01E itself will comply with the 2014 FIA safety standards – the same used to regulate Formula One – and will feature safety measures such as carbon fibre front and rear impact structures, Diolen anti-intrusion side panels, cockpit head surround protection and wheel tethers. It will also undergo front, side, rear and steering column impact tests together with front and rear roll-hoop impact structure and monocoque push tests.
Safety
- FIA safety standards including: front, side, rear and steering column impact tests
- Front and rear roll hoop, impact structures and monocoque push tests
- Anti-intrusion survival cell protection panels
- Wheel retainer safety cables
- Extinguisher system (electronically operated)
