Here’s to ten seasons of Formula E! ????

It seems only moments ago that the Gerrell & Hard team was chatting excitedly about the new Formula E racing series. FE (as it is commonly abbreviated) was the world’s first all-electric racing series, the top-tier single-seater electric racing event: F1 for a more environmentally-conscious era. And here we are, 2024 marking the tenth season of FE. ?

The sport now features eleven teams and 22 drivers racing 100% electric cars, the latest of which can reach speeds of about 200mph. Sponsorship for 2023-2024 is valued at ￡81.36m, with a global audience of 344 million.

Conceived in the lab, made on the track

Given that it was created as a showcase and a testing ground for innovation in sustainable powertrains, it’s no surprise that Formula E has evolved by leaps and bounds in its first ten years. It is a microcosm and a driver of progress, and the technology tested and refined within the sport has had already had measurable impact on the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Notably, manufacturers like Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover have seen demonstrable return from their involvement in this technological playground, with track-proven advancements making their way into various stages of production EVs. A competitor since Season 5, Nissan has used its experience in FE to significantly improve the Nissan Leaf. The car's battery capacity and range have both increased by just over 180%. Jaguar joined FE in 2016, and has applied racing insights to improve its road cars' energy efficiency. It achieved these gains using predictive energy optimisation techniques based on FE drivers' on-track racing strategies.

Charging forward

And of course, there’s a duality in FE: it’s not just about engine innovation, it’s also about charging infrastructure. The batteries used by passenger EVs won’t cut it in race situations: the ability to maintain peak performance over a long distance is critical. Petrol or diesel-powered cars don’t need a full tank to hit top speed, but road EVs start to slow as their battery charge runs down. For obvious reasons, FE batteries must also be lightweight and capable of ultra-fast charging.

Driven by such imperatives, the improvements in charging technology are among the more noteworthy achievements of FE, with brands like WAE, McLaren, and Lucid Motors all highly invested in designing and refining high-performance batteries. The batteries may be costly but the investment is worthwhile for suppliers. Batteries are big business, and related innovations developed on the track, such as immersion cooling and fast-charging techniques, are patentable and could see their way into the broader EV industry.

Why FE feels so different to other race series

There’s a difference in the way fans think about F1 and FE. F1 has long been a marketing platform driven by enthusiasm for racing; a “look what we can do” for petrolheads, characterised by aspirational glamour.

And although positive peer pressure within the sport has seen F1 mitigate its environmental impact through a variety of incremental improvements and a bold sustainability plan - offsetting travel and implementing efficiency measures like KERS systems for starters - it was never meant to be a comprehensive solution for advancing sustainable technology. ?FE was launched with a clear plan to accelerate innovation and tackle emerging challenges head on.

Commercial and kind?

FE has shown that it’s possible to create a motorsport that is both a huge commercial draw and a source of sustainable technology. The racing has evolved and the sport’s cultural impact is growing. The lifecycle for technological advancements in this space is accelerating, and FE is a testing ground for technologies that are difficult to trial or replicate in a lab environment.

A growing number of companies are now involved in both F1 and FE, but it’s likely the two sports will remain distinct, as are their unique challenges. F1 must continue to evolve its sustainability? credentials. And for FE, with investors keen to see a return, the sport must remain entertaining while continuing to drive innovation and improvements. It must also work hard on its messaging, because it’s critical for the automotive industry that audiences understand how progressive technological innovation is as much a part of FE as fast cars and improving lap times. That is the unique magic of the sport, and the key to the role it plays in bringing green technologies to the forefront of public discourse.

And there are still more innovations to look forward to in FE, such as the introduction of four-wheel-drive systems and the expansion of international racing. So here’s to Formula E and its tenth season: more power to this vital and important test bed for innovation in sustainable technology.

What caught our attention this month

Vintage design meets new tech with UK startup Spirit EV. Founded by RBW, the company specialises in creating classic-style cars with a modern electric upgrade, offering EV-as-a-service. Definitely one to watch.

The UK has unveiled plans for new 'green shipping corridors,' committing up to ￡9 million to establish zero-emission sea routes and create green jobs. The initiative aims to make international shipping more sustainable, enhancing routes to key destinations such as Amsterdam and Dublin.

Cornish Lithium is poised to launch a ￡15m demonstration plant in Cornwall, a major milestone in the UK's clean energy transition. The facility will produce lithium hydroxide, essential for electric vehicle batteries, helping to decrease reliance on imported resources.

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