http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph jULY 2019 43Enter Formula E, a new all-electric racing series
started in 2014 by Alejandro Agag. A self-
proclaimed racing man, Agag said he wanted to
put his passion for racing together with his care
for the environment.
It is hard to start a new racing series these days.
The established ones, like F1, NASCAR, and
IndyCar, have been struggling with viewership
and attendance over the years. How can you get
racing fans to care about a new series? Especially
one that didn’t have the same speed and roaring
gas engines of its competitors.
Formula E offers an interesting proposition,
though. The idea is to bring this racing series
right into cities affected by climate change. You
get races in places like Marrakesh, Hong Kong,
Mexico, Paris, New York, etc. It promotes the
idea of clean energy in a fun way. Perhaps even
encourage viewers to consider getting an electric
car instead of a gas one.
It’s impressive to think about what the sport
has achieved in the time it’s been around.
While the current 2018/19 season is coming
to a close, the development doesn’t stop
here. With big name manufacturers like
Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Nissan, etc. involved in
the series, it allows for better development
of the racecars, but also of future electric
vehicles these automakers will produce.
What an exciting time for the sport and for
our roads, too!But the series isn’t without its own set of problems.
The electric racecars couldn’t last through the entire
race, so drivers needed to swap cars in the middle
of a race. And with fully - electric powertrains, these
racecars sounded like life-size radio-controlled cars.
The racecars were spec cars in a lot of ways. Except
for the electric drivetrain, the chassis, aerodynamics,
and tires were specified by the FIA (the same
governing body in charge of F1). All these limiting
factors were not exactly appealing to long-time
racing fans.
Change was afoot, though. Four years into the
series and in its fifth season, Formula E was ready to
introduce its second-generation car or the Gen2 car
as it’s being called. But what’s new this time around?
The cars have been refined to make it easier for the
drivers to push harder and to last the entire length of
the 45-minute race.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the changes:
Beauty
Spark Racing Technology and the FIA designed the
new “Batmobile-esque” cars. The aim was to improve
the efficiency of the racecars. The Gen2 car trades
its rear wing for a smaller X-type wing. Now, the cars
get most of the downforce from the underfloor. A
huge diffuser provides the grip needed even when
the cars are right behind their competition. The
combination of smaller wings and the diffuser allows
for more wheel-to-wheel action without protruding
parts getting in the way.The front wheels are now covered to reduce the
way spinning wheels affect the efficiency of airflow
around the car. Michelin developed the new Pilot
Sport all-weather tire, which is designed to meet
the demands of electric street racing. The wheels
are lighter than their predecessors and have lower
rolling resistance, too.Like the other FIA single-seater championship
series, the Gen2 car gets the halo head
protection device. Made with high-strength
titanium and measuring 4mm thick, the halo can
withstand 14 other Formula E cars stacked on
top of it.Brawn
The old Formula E car had a maximum power
output of 200kW (around 268 horsepower). The
Gen2 car tops out at 250kW (around 335hp). It
can reach a maximum speed of 280km/h and
it can reach 100km/h in the time it took you to
read this sentence. Depending on what session
they’re running, the power unit may be limited
to different maximum levels.The new battery has almost doubled in range this
season. It has 54kWh of usable energy that is capable
of powering an average German household for over
five days. And while it can finally last the duration of
the race, it takes only 45 minutes to charge, too.Brains
The innovation doesn’t stop with the cars, though. A
new sporting dynamic allows teams to play around
with strategy. Called Attack Mode, the teams are
alerted just before the race starts about how many
times it must be used and the duration. By passing
through the Attack Mode Activation Zone, drivers
can race at faster speeds for a period of time. It’ll
cost them time initially, but it gives them that extra
boost they might need to, for example, overtake an
opponent. It’s a strategic play that helps keep the
race exciting.It joins the Fan Boost mode, which gives the popular
drivers an extra dose of power courtesy of fans who
vote for them ahead and during the first part of the
race.The halo on the cars shows if the driver is using
Attack Mode or Fan Boost. It lights red for Attack
Mode and purple for Fan Boost. If the driver opts to
use both modes at the same time, both lights are
shown.Front (ABB Formula E Championship)Back (ABB Formula E Championship)