Formula E, together with the FIA, has teased their “Gen3” racing car. The new car will make its racing debut for Season 9 of the series, set to take place in 2022 and 2023.
Formula E says that the Gen3 represents the world’s most efficient racing car, which seems oddly similar to the new slogan over at F1. The competing FIA series recently revealed the tagline “The world’s most efficient engine,” focusing on using sustainable e-fuels for future racing rather than FE’s all-out battery-electric concept.
Read: Formula 1 Reveals New “Green” Graphics, Aims For 100% Sustainability With E-Fuels By 2025
Regardless, the electric racing car has some impressive headline figures and changes to the Formula car concept. Perhaps the biggest news is the cars will now feature a front powertrain for regenerative braking, which allows them to ditch hydraulic brakes on the rear axle. The new front powertrain will add 250 kW from the front to the 350 kW already at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capability of the current Gen2 to a total of 600kW.
Not only will the Gen3 car be the first-ever Formula car to have both front and rear powertrains, but at least 40 percent of the energy used within a race will be reclaimed from the braking system. In theory, this should add a different dynamic to the racing, with braking key to regenerating power that drivers could deploy throughout a race.
The new car will feature a boost in output, too, with the electric motor delivering up to 350kw of power (470 bhp), up from the 250 kW (335 bhp) of the Gen2. That’ll be good enough for a top speed of 200 mph (320 km/h), while the Gen3 will also be lighter and smaller than the car it replaces.
Related: Antonio Giovinazzi To Race In Formula E In 2022 With Dragon Penske Autosport
Other sustainable aspects of the car include a “pioneering process” that will deliver 26 percent sustainable materials into the composition of tires, while all carbon fiber parts will be reused. Additionally, Gen3 cars will be net carbon zero, with all suppliers held to strict sustainability KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).
The design of the Gen 3 has been inspired by “the aero-efficient delta wing of a fighter jet.” One of the most significant changes from both a visual and racing standpoint is the ditching of the front wheel covers. The covers had seen drivers willing to risk contact thanks to the design’s added strength over a more traditional Formula car.
“The new Gen3 Formula E single-seater is a car created at the intersection of high performance, efficiency, and sustainability,” said FIA President Jean Todt. “I have no doubt that this new single-seater will elevate Formula E to the next level.”
