Formula E is the world's first fully-electric racing series and started its first season on September 13, 2014. Ten teams with a total of 20 drivers – many of these former Formula 1 drivers – are initially competing against each other in ten large cities worldwide. The organising FIA (Féderation International de l'Automobile), that also organises Formula 1, wants to take a completely different path with the series and appeal to new target groups – mainly young people. For example, the season takes place counter cyclically from most other racing series in the winter half-year.
Environmental friendliness, economy and sustainability are the focus points of the overall concept. The Formula E series should provide a competitive environment for the automotive industry to advance the development of the electric car (mainly in large cities). The tire manufacturer Michelin is only providing a single tire version that resembles a conventional road tire, will not be changed for the whole race weekend and should be driven on both dry as well as wet sections. Newly designed road circuits in the city centres of this world are used as venues to bring the event directly to the spectators.
The Race
The complete "race weekend" takes place in each case on one day (Saturday): Free practice in the morning, qualifying at midday in four randomly drawn groups of five (to prevent traffic disruptions on the narrow routes) and race in the afternoon. All times in the schedule are the respective local times. The race itself takes approximately 55 minutes.
The Cars
Hightech for the Race Circuit
The Spark SRT_01E is a race car with a lot of hightech details. In the first season all cars are identical whereas in the second season the possibilities for technical development come up.
All Formula E racing cars have maximum power of 200 kW that corresponds to 272 HP. It can be used for free practice and for qualifying. In the race, only 150 kW (just under 204 PS) are available to the drivers over long sections. Maximum speeds of approx. 225 km/h are reached, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just under three seconds. The vehicle type is Spark-Renault; Engines have been developed by McLaren. Each team is equipped with identical cars in the first season. In the second season the cars should be developed by the teams themselves.
The Energy
The rechargeable batteries of the electric cars (developed by Williams) for the time being only keep their capacity for 25 minutes. This makes a vehicle change in the middle of the race necessary because a battery replacement would be too time-consuming. Solutions for wireless charging are currently being developed; these are already in use for the safety and medical cars (both BMW).
The Fanboost
Fans may vote which three drivers receive an energy advantage in the next race. The winners each receive two five-second additional boosts – one per car – for overtaking or to defend themselves. Thereby, the power of the car is increased from 150 kW (204 PS) to 180 kW (245 PS). This may be agreed up to half an hour before the start of the race.
The Roots
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Würth Elektronik eiSos GmbH & Co. KG is part of the Würth Group. Adolf Würth’s success story began in the mid-1920s, when he started visiting carpenters’ workshops and other companies to sell screws and fastening materials in the Hohenlohe region of Southern Germany. In 1945, with 20 years’ experience in this line of business, Adolf Würth established a wholesale firm supplying screws, nuts and bolts in Künzelsau. After his death in 1954, his 19-year-old son, Reinhold, took over the business, which employed two people at that time. This year, in 2015, the Würth Group celebrates its 70th anniversary with more than 66.000 employees all over the world.
| The success story of ABT begins in the year 1896, when Johann Abt founded a blacksmith’s shop in Kempten, in the Allgäu region of Southern Germany. His grandson competes in his first race on the Kempten grass track in 1950, followed by more than 300 motorsport victories. ABT Tuning is founded 17 years later. ABT Sportsline GmbH is founded in 1991 by Christian and Hans-Jürgen Abt. In the same year, Christian Abt starts his successful career as driver among others in the DTM series. In 2009 Daniel Abt, son of Hans-Jürgen, starts his career and becomes one of the drivers in the first Formula E season in 2014/2015 of the ABT Sportsline Formula E Team. |
Technology Partners - Würth Elektronik eiSos Group and ABT Sportsline in the Formula E
Racing sports promote development of electric powertrains and eMobility: Würth Elektronik eiSos is new technology partner of ABT Sportsline in the Formula E.
Würth Elektronik eiSos GmbH & Co. KG is technology partner of the Formula E Racing Team of ABT Sportsline. The CEOs of Würth Elektronik eiSos, Oliver Konz and Thomas Schrott, as well as Hans-Jürgen Abt, managing director of ABT Sportsline GmbH, signed an official agreement at the Norisring in Nuremberg on June 29, 2014.
The Kemptener racing team is the only German team that will drive in the recently established FIA Formula E Championship; it will compete in ten races for the Formula E Championship of the electric racing cars against nine other teams. All races take place on city street circuits.
The opening race started in Peking on September 13, 2014. In Europe, the Formula E circus will make its appearance for the first time on May 9, 2015 at the famous city course in the Principality of Monaco. Other races take place in Malaysia, Uruguay, Argentina, the U.S. and England. The home contest for the ABT Sportsline team will be the race on May 23, 2015 in Berlin. Würth Elektronik eiSos expects that in addition to increasing brand awareness, its involvement in Formula E will provide an important stimulus for the technological development of components for electric drives and eMobility.
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