“Your battery is running low. Box this lap.”
Many fans fear that this is the future of Formula One, especially with the introduction of hybrid power-units, and Energy Recovery Systems over the past few years.
After the opening round of the F1 season in Melbourne, there has been many complaints regarding the sound, or lack thereof, of the cars.
How would these fans react once they became aware that the FIA are introducing a completely electric single-seater series later this year?
Yes, Formula E’s batteries will start running later this year, with Beijing opening the series with the first race on September 13.
The Spark-Renault SRT 01E will be the car used in the competition, built in collaboration with work from Spark Racing Technologies, McLaren’s electronics division, Williams Advanced Engineering, Dallara and Renault.
The sound of the cars at high speed will reach approximately 80 decibels (db), in comparison to your standard petrol road car that can produce around 70db.
The cars look like generic lower-formula single-seater racers, other than the 18” wheels, more akin to a standard car, with bespoke Michelin tyres designed to run in both wet and dry conditions to last the whole weekend.
However, the difference that is most noticeable is what is underneath the engine cover.
The cars have two Motor Generator Units (MGU), powered by a Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS) designed to propel the car via the electric motor.
In terms of power, the car will have an estimated maximum output of 200kW (268 hp) at 230 nM of torque, only to be utilised in full during practice and qualifiying.
In race mode, designed to be a power-saving mode, the power output will be 133 kW (178 hp).
Just like Indy Car, and the old KERS system in Formula One. the cars will also feature “Push-to-Pass”, which will allow the drivers to go up to the maximum output to get past the other competitors
But, how will this relate to performance?
The FIA estimate the cars will go from 0 – 100 km/h in 3 seconds, with a maximum (FIA limited) speed of 225 km/h.
The races will also have an interesting twist to the event, due to the electric cars.
Each team will have two drivers, and four cars (two for each driver), and drivers hopping out of one car, into the other, while their original car has its battery recharged for the final stint.
The typical race weekend has also been condensed into one day.
The morning sees a one-hour free practice session, followed by a qualifying ‘shootout’, with the running order chosen by the driver who sets the quickest time in practice, according to the Formula E website.
After a two-hour break over the afternoon, to give the cars a chance to fully recharge, the evening sees the final race run, to be over three stints and include two pit stops, with a planned race length of 45 minutes.
The most recent test was run the week following the Australian GP, at the La Ferté Gaucher circuit near Choisy-le-Roi, France, with former Formula One driver Jarno Trulli at the wheel, and his comments following the test speaks volumes on the leaps that the car just may make on making motor-racing relevant to the mainstream car manufacturers, while maintaining that high-performance edge that fans of motorsport love.
“From inside the cockpit it feels like driving a proper Formula One car, the sound is different but you still hear the sound of the electrical engine and gearbox, so in terms of feeling it’s perfect for a racing driver,” Trulli said.
“Maybe from the outside it seems different but inside you don’t notice it. So far I have enjoyed it because it’s a nice car to drive.”
To make your own judgment on how the car and Formula E will be viewed, a video was released that covers Trulli’s test on YouTube:
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