How Formula E’s Gen3 achieves twice the efficiency of an ICE race car
EVs are out for the racetrack throne
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainabili(show all)Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy. With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
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1. Regenerative braking only
The Gen3 is the first formula car without hydraulic brakes. Instead, it features only regenerative breaking that’s claimed to produce at least 40% of the energy used during a race.
2. Double powertrains
The Gen3 is also the first formula car featuring both front and rear powertrains. The front powertrain adds250kW to the 350kW at the rear, which translates into a whopping 600kW total. That’s enough to “more than double” the regenerative capacity of the Gen2.
3. Hella powerful and fast
The electric motor delivers up to350kw of power (470hp) and a top speed of 320km/h. Formula E says that the Gen3’s power-to-weight ratio is exactly what makes it twice as efficient as an equivalent 470hp combustion race car.
4. Lightweight design
According to its manufactures, the Gen3 is lighter and smaller than then Gen2 — although we don’t have any specific details on its dimensions and weight. Based on the comparison with the Gen2, we can assume that it weighs less than 903kg (including the drivers) and is shorter than5160mm long (or about 5.1m for normal humans).
In any case, the Gen3’s design is said to enablefaster and more agile wheel-to-wheel racing.
If the Gen3 is indeed what it claims to be, there’s a second important question:whencan we actually see it in action?
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait so long.
Jamie Reigle, Formula E CEO, said in thepress release:
And that’s the 2022/2023 season, folks! In the meantime, pre-season testing will start in the next few months, so we might even get a better glimpse earlier on.
