Image shows Formula E cars.

Kerry Violet

Electric motorsport is gaining traction after ten years of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Despite some similarities to Formula 1, the race day format differs dramatically from its fuel-powered counterpart. As season ten begins, here is a crash course into the world’s first all-electric motorsport competition.

The Basics

Many of the basic expectations remain the same. The 11 teams have two drivers each, competing in individual and team competitions.

Points are accumulated depending on where drivers finish in each race. At the end, the team and driver with the most points take the title. These teams include automobile giants such as Porsche, McLaren and Jaguar.

The Scoring System:

Position Points
1st 25 points
2nd 18 points
3rd 15 points
4th 12 points
5th 10 points
6th 8 points
7th 6 points
8th 4 points
9th 2 points
10th 1 point

An extra point is awarded for the fastest driver in qualifying and the fastest lap of the race (provided they finish in the top 10). Three points are also awarded for the Julius Baer pole position. 2019 an extra point was introduced for the fastest driver from group qualifying.

Generations of Cars

In its lifetime so far, Formula E has seen three generations of cars. Gen one was hectic and eccentric at worst. Due to its insufficient battery life, two cars were needed for an almost relay-style race element. This meant that one pitstop involved the driver jumping out of one car straight into the second.

“Gen three then introduced the most powerful electric race car ever built.”

Of course, the goal is to be the fastest on the grid. However, an obvious issue will arise when you’re working with a car whose battery depletes quicker the faster you drive it. Thankfully, four years later, Gen Two could race twice the distance — eliminating the need for the extra car.

Gen Three then introduced the most powerful electric race car ever built. The car weighed even less than its predecessor, improving from 250 to 350 kW. It also featured new powertrain technology that could influence all-electric cars in the future!

The Itinerary

The layout of a Formula E race weekend is unconventional. Like most motorsport series, you have practice, qualifying and the main event. Though, those races don’t just take place once every weekend. Some weekends become hosts of “double-headers,” where two races occur on consecutive days on the same track.

It’s not just the cars that are better for the environment. Each E-Prix is situated in a city centre, making the event more accessible and environmentally friendly than a Grand Prix. You can access this year’s Formula E race calendar here.

Each event has two practice sessions. The first is 45 minutes long, swiftly followed by another — which takes 30 minutes. However, this is reduced to one 45-minute session on the second day of a double-header.

During practice, the drivers have 350 kW of power available, as the grid is divided into two groups. Drivers then compete for 10 minutes, with the fastest four from each round participating in duals and quarter-finals. The final winners then go head-to-head for the pole position.

In these qualifying rounds, their power is limited to 300 kW in the group stages and increases to 350 kW for the duals. The E-Prix offers either 300 kW or 350 kW of power, depending on whether drivers access attack mode.

Where F1 strategists face the challenge of deciding when to pit, which tyres to use and how to manage fuel, Formula E revolves around something different. Teams must figure out how best to manage the energy available to them to ensure their energy consumption allows them to finish the race. Cars can be charged in between sessions and throughout practice, but not during qualifying or the E-Prix. 

The Rules

There are quite a few rules to get your head around with Formula E. Many of the additional elements are inspired by video games, meaning they possess an element of unpredictability.

In the past, drivers had a “fan boost,” where fans watching would vote for their favourite driver or one they felt most deserved a power boost during the race. That rule has since been abolished, but attack mode still exists.

“Unlike F1, all teams in Formula E have to use the same chassis.”

Think of this element like the multicoloured arrows that boost you when driving over them in Mario Kart. It’s essentially the same concept in an E-Prix. If you take the slower racing line through a corner, you’ll be rewarded with a 50 kW boost in power. 

Unlike F1, all teams in Formula E have to use the same chassis. They also only have two sets of tyres available to them throughout the whole race day.

“E-Prix’s do not contain traditional pitstops like F1.”

E-Prix’s do not contain traditional pitstops like F1. To champion sustainability through the sport, electric cars only have one type of tyre rather than several.

The bespoke Hankook all-weather tyres are limited. “Each driver can use no more than four new rear and four new front tyres for each event,” reads the official regulations. “For a double-header, drivers are given six front and rear tyres to use across the whole weekend.”  

The Future

Like so many Netflix subscribers before me, F1 piqued my interest even more in recent years thanks to Drive to Survive‘s elevated drama and hype. The documentary’s exclusive insider content seems to make the sport much more interesting.

YouTube also has its documentary series titled Formula E: Unplugged. It is certainly more digestible than Drive to Survive, so do look and see if you also fall in love with the all-electric racing series. 

With F1 cars currently running a hybrid system, there is no telling how the future of the sport will pan out to blend with Formula E. That said, it holds an exclusive licence to be the only electric racing series for 25 years. With that expiring in 2039, a merger could be on the horizon. 

No matter how deep your love for motorsport runs, Formula 1’s contribution to environmental damage cannot be ignored for much longer.

The world and its needs are changing, so hop on board before you get left behind!

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Featured image courtesy of Rico Reynaldi via Unsplash. No changes have been made to this image. Image license found here.

I am a journalism graduate from the University of Sheffield with a passion for motorsport and film.

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