What it takes to prepare an electric race car for the Formula E battle

While the rules and regulations are clearly different, a Formula E car is also nothing like the car that makes noise in Formula One. In the upcoming season, the third-generation electric race car will offer better range and performance. But different conditions around the world present different challenges for humans and machines.

Also read: Dummy’s guide to electric racing

For example, the Hyderabad edition is mostly about thermal management. Despite being held in February, the track and ambient temperatures are still high compared to other venues such as Berlin, London and Rome. Formula E is also held in places like Mexico City, Drayiya, Saudi Arabia, and Jakarta, where heat and/or humidity can be a big factor. “When it’s close to 30C, everything is taken into account. How demanding the track is, how the tires are going to deal with it, how we’re going to deal with it as drivers,” Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans told HT Auto on the sidelines of the event. The 28-year-old New Zealander was involved in a collision with his team-mate Sam Bird in the Hyderabad edition, an unfortunate end to what otherwise dominated the show for the most part in both parts.

But even as Evans and Byrd hope to bounce back in this weekend’s fifth round in Cape Town, the focus will remain on the larger message around sustainability. “Racing is for excitement, but there is a bigger purpose besides entertainment. It’s a sustainability that no other championship has. Our fanbase is young compared to F1. But it’s changing significantly, There are some very high quality driving teams around,” Evans explained.

First published date: Feb 21, 2023 at 11:53 AM CST