Formula 1’s Electric Counterpart is Fighting Against Climate Change

The batteries are still charging and the team are only just home following the end of the astonishing 5th Season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in July, yet the racing world is already waiting with bated breath for the 2019/2020 season to commence in Ad Diryah, Saudi Arabia this coming November. After a dramatic, and at times, chaotic doubleheader finale in the Big Apple, the world is asking itself if Vergne can continue his unprecedented winning streak in Season 6. The more important question, however, may well be ‘How is Formula 1’s electric counterpart helping in the fight against climate change?;

“Our long-term vision is to power our events with 100% renewable energy by 2020 (beyond our cars).” ABB, 2019

Formula 1 still dominates the motorsport world and, due to the astronomical levels of investment, unrivalled sporting history and millions of devoted fans across the globe, it continues to be something of a colossus that is unlikely to fall anytime soon. There are, however, many aspects to Formula E that are contributing to its burgeoning reputation as an industry leader, and one that may survive long after the fuel of Formula 1’s appeal has run dry. A key factor in this success is the FIA’s progressive and ecologically-minded approach to motorsports.

“ISO 20121 is the international standard of sustainability for events… Formula E is the first-ever motorsport championship to receive this prestigious certification.” ABB, 2019

‘Sustainability’, ‘carbon-footprint’ and ‘climate change’ can be dirty words for many within the traditional motorsport community, raised on roaring engines and the intense aroma of petrol, oil and fumes. This is a reality that isn’t going to change any time soon, and rightly so. Formula 1 continues to display some of the greatest drivers and most remarkable innovations in technology the world has ever seen. What Formula E founders Jean Todt, president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag instead set out to do was give a greater focus to the electrification of the automobile industry. They saw the value of the development of electric and hybrid technology and, ultimately, working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to create a cleaner, better world. The idea that Formula E was ever conceived as a ‘rival’ to Formula 1 is something of a misnomer. 

“We race on temporary tracks in the hearts of some of the world’s leading cities, eliminating the need to build new infrastructure for each race.” ABB, 2019

What cannot be ignored, however, is the fact that climate change and carbon emissions are dominating modern-day discussion in a way that has never been seen before. The UK has pledged to cut emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2050. Norway has settled on a national goal that, by 2025, all new vehicles sold will be electric or hydrogen-fueled and be zero-emission. And with cities consuming 78% of the world’s energy and producing more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions, it is clear that showcasing clean, electric vehicles in the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities is a vital step forward.

London has its chance to shine in the 2019/2020 Season finale, with the world’s first indoor-outdoor race taking place in the heart of London’s Docklands. It is anticipated that this event will have the eyes of audiences across the world watching. It’s an an event that, up until six years ago, would never have been possible. Indeed, races through city streets in exotic locations around the world are one of the main draws of Formula E. Whilst some lament the lower speeds and comparatively quiet engines, this enables the ABB FIA championship to be incredibly creative in their locations, making for tight-knit, sharp-cornered tracks in the heart of some of the world’s most gorgeous cities. 

“We use only 1 set of hybrid tyres per race, which were specially designed by Michelin to be suitable for all weather conditions.” ABB, 2019

In the eight years since its inception, the standard car has been developed into its current, impressive Gen2 format, and there is little cause for concern left that sustainable technology will hold them back. The Audi-built Gen2 cars have a truly impressive list of statistics, including a top speed of 280 km/h (174 mph), 250 kW (335 bhp) maximum power and acceleration of 0-100 km/h (0-62mp/h) in 2.8 seconds. Considering that the Spark, Dallara and McLaren’s Gen1 car only began development in September 2012, the pace of technological improvement suggests some incredible advances to come in the future.

The cars are essentially the same, meaning that driver skill plays a vital role in deciding the winner. Manufacturer teams are able to customise both the powertrain, which consists of an AC/DC converter, motor and transmission and the in-car software. The discoveries made during research and development in these areas will undoubtedly find its way onto the consumer electric car market in time.

“We bring the race to city centres and encourage fans to use public transport or electric vehicle sharing. We purposefully do not provide parking spaces to reinforce this. We also have a great online platform where fans can watch the race live and in 360!” ABB, 2019

Up until 2017, drivers were required to switch cars mid-race as the batteries were unable to power the car for an entire race and the logistics of swapping the batteries themselves wasn’t practical. With Season 5’s Gen2 model, McLaren Applied Technologies’ giant, 54kW/h lithium-ion batteries can last the duration of a race – 45 minutes +1 lap; a remarkable technological development considering the 200 – 250 kW power they’re outputting. McLaren’s development process shows no signs of slowing, as they have been chosen as the sole battery supplier by the FIA until 2020. Even more remarkably, the glycerine fuel the teams will use to generate the power, a dense, high-oxygen byproduct of biodiesel that combusts in an exceptionally clean way, is so clean and environmentally friendly, it can be safely drunk by humans, if that’s what you’re into.

Organisers have worked tirelessly to ensure the reduced carbon footprint not only of the teams, but spectators as well, with plastic-free audience zones and the encouragement of fans to use public transport instead of their personal vehicles to attend races in these cities by refusing to provide parking spaces for spectators. It is refreshing to see this approach taken in the world of spectator sports, which all too often, even in this age of ever-expanding ecological awareness, place more importance on the bottom line than the world around them.

“We are a proud ambassador of the EV100 programme and partner of the RE100 programme… The objective is to “make electric transport the new normal by 2030.”  ABB, 2019

Impact has already been seen on the production lines of some manufacturer teams as well. Jaguar Land Rover will offer electric versions of all new models by 2020. Mahindra have announced a $139 million investment package to develop a battery module pack production line by 2020, which will develop its electric vehicle production capacity and help to inspire change across India. These developments, combined with the many more sure to come and the 3 million electric vehicles currently on the road bodes well for the future of sustainable transport, with Formula E at the forefront.

There is so much more to respect and admire about Formula E’s approach to creating a better world through motorsport that it’d be impossible to contain it all in a single article. As the sport grows, so will the pioneering use of social media, virtual reality audience platforms and playable, real-time video games. It’s amazing to witness the devotion to working with charitable causes in the cities Formula E visits and the work that manufacturer teams, drivers and investors are doing to safeguard the planet’s future. If this brave new world continues to develop, perhaps Ernst & Young’s prediction that Formula E will help sell over 77 million electric vehicles, saving four billion barrels of oil by 2040, may well come true.