The 5th season of the Formula E electric racing car series kicked off in Dubai on December 15, 2018. This time, a new, more powerful battery upped the action on a temporary street circuit. This eliminated the need for drivers to make a half-way pit stop to jump across to a fully-charged second car. Formula E racing is finally beginning to look like the real thing.
The New 54-Kilowatt Formula E Racing Batteries
The new battery pack for the model Spark SRT05e is almost double the size of the previous one. While the power trains of Formula E racing cars remain the same, the single electric motor benefited from an upgrade spec.
The motor now delivers far more power through the transmission to the rear wheels. Design News confirms “the maximum allowable power has increased to 250 kW (335 Hp), up from 180 kW (241 Hp). Regenerative braking performance has also increased to a maximum of 250 kW, up from 150 kW under braking.” This makes these Gen 2 cars considerably faster than the previous generation.
Spark Racing Technology Building the Spark SRT05e EV
French manufacturer Spark Racing Technology has the contract to build the basic Gen 2 Formula E car. Spark depends on advice from longtime Italian race car manufacturer Dallara for the chassis, tires and batteries.
The individual Formula E racing teams then add their own gearboxes, motors, and electronics. Competition is extreme among them to win the coveted prize. The Formula E series organizers have tricks up their sleeves to add to spectator excitement. These include periods of fan boost for the three drivers with highest social media status.
The current series includes 13 races in twelve cities following the Dubai spectacular. Bern, Switzerland and Sanya, China feature among these. However the season finale will once again be in New York on July 13 to 14, 2019.
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Preview Image: Formula E Nissan Gen 2 Car at Geneva International Motor Show
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