Now that we are less than one year away from the start of the new all-electric single-seater racing series, Formula E, it was about time that we saw what the 10 teams and 20 drivers will be using to compete.
Called the Spark-Renault SRT_01E, credits for its design and engineering go to Spark Racing Technology, while as we already knew, McLaren handled the all-electric powertrain bits and battery pack, before Renault puts everything together and does the final safety checks.
A total of 42 cars will be made, and each of the drivers will swap cars midway through, so as to avoid the charging problems we normally associate with battery-powered EVs. However, this is only the case for the 2014 season, as after that each team is encouraged to build its own car “to help accelerate R&D.”
Its electric motor said to be have 270 hp, or the equivalent of 200 kW, and thanks to its all-carbon construction and instant torque characteristics, it should make for some interesting (albeit silent) track battles.
The SRT_01E is now on display at the Frankfurt motor show, but we can’t wait to see twenty of them in what promises to be some very close racing action, at least in the first season.
By Andrei Nedelea
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