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As a Formula One fan growing up during the V10 era, the FIA’s push over the last few years to emphasise hybrid power has changed my feelings about the sport.
Most fans were even more so wary when FIA announced a new electronic-powered racing league in 2012.
Being that both it and Formula One are being run by the same governing body, fans have often drawn comparisons between them – with many expressing concern over Formula E rules being introduced into F1.
However, it would be more reasonable to suggest they will co-exist, and the sister-series may actually benefit its big brother.
With the Formula E Mclaren-powered Renault chassis cars able to produce 180 hp on track, this makes them output half the power of a standard V6 F1 car.
The machines also have a noise equivalent to 80 decibels, over half of the current V6 F1 car’s 134 db.
Performance is not what sets Formula E apart from other open cockpit racing leagues. Instead, the innovative nature of the sport means other racing tiers can learn from it.
Firstly, every team is provided the same car, with the same grunt (or lack of) under the hood, and all tyres provided by Michelin.
This immediately eliminates barriers between financially blessed teams, and their not so fortunate counterparts.
Such a formula has evened the playing field, with the key to success residing in the 20 drivers, some of whom have at some point participated in Formula One.
Driving skill is at the forefront; the opening race in Beijing taught us that harvesting the car’s power is not dissimilar to Formula One drivers managing their fuel.
While equality is a step in the right direction, electronic power is still a new commodity in racing.
Drivers changing cars midway through a race is hardly ideal, but Formula One may yet hold a solution for its electronic counterpart.
The Formula One lithium ion batteries charged by ERS for a 160hp boost are the same as Formula E batteries.
Perhaps an ERS style system could be introduced into Formula E, thus prolonging the amount of time a car remains on the track.
However this would require the implementation of MGU-K and MGU-H energy systems, thus increasing the weight of the car and breaching some current regulations of the sport.
If applied in Formula E, it could add an extra driver skill element, with the pilots considering their braking points more than before.
The sport itself could also contribute towards hybrid production cars, in the same way Formula One’s KERS has already been added in newer Ferrari’s and Volvo prototypes.
Formula One fans need not worry about any effect it may have on their sport. The very fact the FIA created a separate league instead of shifting F1 towards using road tyres and complete electronic power says something.
For the foreseeable future, Formula One fanatics should enjoy combustion engine racing while it lasts, but it will require open mindedness to enjoy Formula E beyond the incessant noise and lower powered cars.
The race long Chinese ePrix battle between Nick Heidfeld and Nicolas Prost are just some of the reasons why fans will witness raw driving, something that has been missing from Formula One due to team domination.
For those who are interested, the FIA have even uploaded an extended highlights video of the race on Youtube. What do you think? Will you be following the sport during the Malaysian ePrix on 22 November?
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