It’s been a busy week for Formula E with pre-season testing kicking off and the brand-new unveiling of the third-generation (Gen3) single-seater, which will debut in the series in 2023.
With strong support from the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the electric vehicle category launched a faster, lighter and more technologically powerful race car.
Compared to the Gen2s currently in use, the new generation model will be the first formula car without rear hydraulic brakes. This is because the Gen3 will incorporate two engines, a 350 kW engine in the rear and a 250 kW engine in the front, providing a regenerative capacity of 600 kW, more than double what the current versions can offer.
Features
Both FIA and Formula E claim that it is the most efficient car in the world, since 40% of the energy used in a race will be produced by regenerative braking.
The vehicle integrating the 350 kW (470 BHP) electric motor is capable of reaching a top speed of 320 km/h, with a power-to-weight ratio. It will be twice as efficient as an internal combustion engine.
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The Gen3 will maintain the championship status as a net-zero carbon certified vehicle. Broken carbon fiber parts will be recycled through an aerospace industry process into new, reusable fibers for other applications.
In addition, the tires will feature a process that will provide 26% sustainable materials in their composition.
Jamie Reigle, CEO of Formula E explained that when designing the Gen3 car, they set out to demonstrate that high performance, efficiency and sustainability can coexist without compromise. “Together with the FIA, we have built the most efficient and sustainable high-performance racing car in the world.”
The new car will be 7 centimeters narrower than the Gen2 (1.7 vs. 1.77 meters wide), and 16 centimeters shorter (5 vs. 5.16 meters long). The weight will be 780 kilograms including driver, compared to the current 900 kilograms.
Considering that the category competes mostly in narrow street circuits, the size reduction of the single-seaters aims at generating more battles and overtaking at higher speeds.
It should be noted that Gen3 was presented in an exclusive session for manufacturers, teams, drivers and Formula E partners in Valencia, Spain, and there are no official photos of the new prototype.
Written by I Jhonattan González
