Image: ABB FIA Formula E
Formula E and the Fedration Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) on Thursday unveiled the Gen3 — an all-electric high-performance sports car set to debut in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship next year.
The Gen3 is touted as the fastest Formula E car ever, with a top speed of over 200 mph (322 kph).
Compared to conventional electric vehicles (EVs), that’s faster than Tesla’s Model S Plaid (175 mph) but slower than the multimillion-dollar Rimac Nevera (258 mph).
Image: ABB FIA Formula E
“The Gen3 disrupts and challenges the conventions of motorsport, setting the benchmark for performance, efficiency and sustainability without compromise,” said Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E.
“Together with the FIA, we are proud to reveal the Gen3 to Formula E fans and demonstrate to the wider sports industry how elite sport, high performance and sustainability can successfully co-exist in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. We cannot wait to see how our teams and drivers push the car to its limit in 2023.”
While advancements in motorsport have relied heavily on aerodynamic development for decades now, Gen3 instead focuses on software engineering. According to Formula E, performance upgrades for the Gen3 will be delivered as software updates directly to the advanced operating system built into the car.
Take a look at some of the performance and design highlights for the Gen3 race car below:
- Fastest Formula E car yet with a top speed over 322 kph / 200 mph.
- Most efficient formula racing car ever with more than 40% of the energy used within a race produced by regenerative braking.
- Around 95% power efficiency from an electric motor delivering up to 350kW of power (470BHP), compared to approximately 40% for an internal combustion engine.
- First-ever formula car with both front and rear powertrains. A new front powertrain adds 250kW to the 350kW at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capability of the current Gen2 to a total of 600kW.
- Ultra-high speed charging capability of 600kW for additional energy during a race, almost double the power of the most advanced commercial chargers in the world.
- The first formula car that will not feature rear hydraulic brakes with the addition of the front powertrain and its regenerative capability.
In addition to performance, Gen3 is also geared towards sustainability. The race car is powered by the most advanced, sustainable batteries ever made, featuring recyclable and reusable battery cells.
In addition, Gen3 production introduces natural and sustainable materials like natural rubber and recycled fibres to the construction of the tyres, batteries, and bodywork.
Image: ABB FIA Formula E
“Both technologically and environmentally, Gen3 sets new standards in the sport,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“The FIA and Formula E development teams have done a superb job, and I thank them for their hard work on this project. I am delighted to see so many leading manufacturers already signed up to the championship’s next era and await Gen3’s competitive debut in Season 9 with great anticipation.”
Seven of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers have already registered with the FIA to race the new Gen3 in Season 9 of the ABB FIA World Championship, with pre-season testing due to begin this winter. The automakers who have signed on include DS Automobiles, Jaguar, Mahindra Racing, NIO 333, Nissan, Porsche AG, and Maserati.
Maserati will also launch the first EV from its planned Folgore lineup — the high-performance GranTurismo coupe, featuring powertrain technology derived from Formula E — in 2023.
