Why You Need To Watch Formula E Right Now
The world’s fastest electric race cars are taking over city centers from Mexico City to S?o Paolo, tearing through the streets at 175 mph.
For its 10th season, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is more exciting than ever, as 22 world-class drivers race across the globe on renewable power.
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As the first global sport to be certified with a net-zero carbon footprint, Formula E is the pinnacle of electric street racing, with drivers locked in a high-speed battle as masterful as a chess tournament. They must manage their car’s energy efficiently, brake and steer strategically, and overtake rivals with lightning-quick acceleration—on a street circuit as narrow as the length of a school bus.
The single-seat, wheel-to-wheel series races along legendary tracks as well as temporary city circuits, using the same clean, quiet technology that will soon power consumer EVs. That’s why more automakers than ever before have signed on for the championship’s tenth season. Maserati, Porsche, McLaren, DS Penske, and more battle wheel to wheel, showcasing the bleeding edge of battery technology and EVs as their cars race around Monaco, London, and other iconic cities while competing for the championship.
“The racing battles are amazing with plenty of overtaking at high-speed close to the walls during each race, thanks to best-in-class drivers,” says Robert York, commercial director for the DS Penske Formula E Team. “The championship is a laboratory to develop the technologies that will be used in our tomorrow’s cars.”
Now in their third generation, the Formula E cars are even more fun to watch, with a power-to-weight ratio that’s twice as efficient as a comparable gasoline-powered car. The GEN3 is the fastest, most powerful, and efficient electric race car ever built. It is designed to show the world that high performance and sustainability can co-exist without compromise.
The GEN3 cars regenerate nearly 40% of the total energy used during the race. They’ve also gained 100 kilowatts of power for a faster, more thrilling spectacle.
Unleashing such power in a major metropolis leads to heart-pounding chases, with less than a minute between the fastest and slowest cars. The circuits span one to two miles, creating a compact course that forces drivers to overtake rivals at every opportunity. Formula E adds to the excitement by encouraging drivers to veer from the racing line to activate Attack Mode. The video game–like feature allots them extra battery power by running over a zone on the track marked with flashing LED light panels.
Follow the kick-off of Season 10 as the grid prepares for what is bound to be another hard-fought battle for the title. You can catch the races in Mexico City on January 13 on Roku and CBS.
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