Taking It To The Tracks: EV Development Pushes The Need For Racing Speed

janeiro 13, 2025

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In 2025 we will see further electric vehicle (EV) development as part of the transition to a cleaner, greener economy. At the source of this innovation is the quest to continually enhance EV vehicle performance while also instilling public confidence in EV technology.

The unique demands of competitive racing scenarios are acting as a catalyst for and sparking the development of advanced EV driving capacity. It’s been common for several years for EV development to be tested at racetracks around the world as a first step in reaching the consumer EV market. Researchers are developing ways to push electric racing vehicles to their limit, combining vehicle dynamics and energy management while reducing lap times.

Often, the racing circuit Formula One (F1) is referred to as the pinnacle of racing technology innovation. Many people have become captivated by F1’s perceived speed and vehicle performance due to the success of the Netflix series “Drive to Survive.” However, F1’s actual on-track racing suffers due to lack of equitable team funding — prize money is split based on how well teams do in the Constructors’ Championship. The higher up the F1 championship a team finishes, the more prize money and prestige a team receives. Until this year, Red Bull shined year after year due to a constant influx of compensation for constructor wins. McLaren’s constructor win in 2024 should shake up the standings — but only slightly.

A handful of us were lucky enough to see the intensity between drivers Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost decades ago — a different era entirely. F1 today is more of an entertainment spectacle these days than a side-by-side competition.

Yes, in 2026 F1 will have new regulations. The cars will be powered by hybrid engines with a 50:50 split between electric power and internal combustion, the latter of which will be powered by synthetic e-fuels. But it’s not the series that should be piquing our interest in EV development.

Formula E deserves a closer look. James Darley of Sustainability magazine says that, with each race, Formula E is “pushing the boundaries of automotive development, showcasing the potential of sustainable vehicles. But most importantly, it’s making them cool.”

In an interview with Forbes, Envision team’s managing director and CTO, Sylvain Filippi, offered some insights about the direction and scope of Formula E. Season 11 brought many technical changes to the GEN3 Evo car’s performance, and those technical shifts will likely filter down to eventual consumer applications. It’s the halfway point of this year with the GEN3 vehicle. But Formula E is already deep into GEN4 EV development.

“The energy density power of batteries is improving greatly every year,” Filippi states. “We’re not far off now from a point where the cars will be so fast that the limitation will be the circuit.” Some of the simulations on GEN4 put Formula E within the performance range of F1. “We are getting close to a point now where, if you were to have the same grip and downforce on the Formula E car, it could compete with Formula 1 in lap time,” Filippi forecasts. “The next few years are going to be pretty fun.”

Let’s take a look at the evolution of Formula E as a way to understand how EV development leads to enhanced EV road vehicles.

Formula E Season 11 Key Technical Enhancements

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the only all-electric World Championship certified by the Fédération Internationale del’ Automobile (FIA). Several key technical enhancements for the GEN3 Evo race car have changed its former acceleration and overall speed.

The GEN3 Evo is the quickest accelerating FIA single-seater race car — capable of 0–60 mph in 1.82 seconds (0–100 km/h in 1.86 seconds), 30% faster than a current F1 car. The Series 11 car can use both front and rear motors to improve acceleration. “We are now able to deploy the same power as before, 350kW (469hp), but split between rear and front powertrain, so we’re able to do zero to 60 miles an hour in 1.8 seconds,” explains Filippi. “No F1 car has ever accelerated faster.”

The performance is assisted by just how lightweight the Formula E GEN3 Evo car is — 760 kg without driver, where the 2025 Formula 1 car’s minimum weight is more at 800 kg. An aggressive new body kit has been designed to be stronger, more robust, and more aerodynamic, delivering closer wheel-to-wheel racing. Stronger, more agile — performance upgrades have provided an estimated 2% performance gain from GEN3, equating to a c.2 secs faster qualifying lap on the Monaco circuit. A front motor in Attack Mode enhances overtaking, similar to DRS in F1. “Sending some of the power to the front axle makes a massive difference,” Filippi explains.

The all-wheel drive (AWD) is a first for a Formula E car, available during qualifying duels, race starts, and ATTACK MODE. This feature maximizes acceleration and control, enhancing both performance and strategy, and providing more exciting racing for drivers and fans alike.

Optimized all-weather Hankook iON tires provides 5–10% more grip, made from 35% recycled and sustainable materials (+9% vs GEN3 spec). “The drivers absolutely love the new car,” says Filippi. “We have more grip with new tires from Hankook and more grip with four-wheel drive.” All-wheel drive is used only during qualifying, when launching off the grid, and in Attack Mode. “Up to 50kW can be sent to the front motor and that makes a huge difference in traction.”

Most recently, EV development focus has turned to optimal sizing, with a particular interest in batteries to increase electric vehicle performance. The Formula E cars start the race with roughly half of the energy they need to finish the race; the rest is delivered by regeneration in the race. This unique challenge is driving manufacturers to enhance their regenerative EV technology rapidly.

In-race charging, comparable to a F1 pit stop but longer, is part of EV development. Testing has taken place in the background at manufacturer days, according to Filipp, and even sometimes at races at low power. The system is gaining reliability, with the hope to eventually add 10% of battery capacity in a few seconds. The technology is being developed in partnership with Elysia, formerly part of Williams Advanced Engineering, which has been working on 2 MW charging for use with giant 264-ton mining trucks.

An area in which Formula E has outshown its F1 rival circuit — and which is not discussed enough — is in overall series sustainability measures. Since its inaugural season, Formula E has worked with carbon footprint experts to assess its championship through a Lifecycle Assessment model, covering impacts related to all race operations as well as Formula E’s headquarters. The annual analysis is used to monitor and calculate the championship’s greenhouse gas emissions, understand its main sources of impact on the environment, and identify opportunities for further improvement in planning and operations. Its Scope 1 and Scope 2 footprint includes energy and electricity consumption at all race sites and HQ, while Scope 3 emissions include all other emissions such as business travel, freight, and car production.

SCOPE 1: 1.3%

SCOPE 2: 0.7%

SCOPE 3: 98%

While EV development in acceleration and overall speed is appealing, the sustainability efforts of the Formula E series may actually be the most enduring of all advancements in their applications for everyday EV driving.