The next generation of Formula E car will be capable of reaching 300kph
That's a huge jump over the current car's top speed
Formula E has been gaining kudos season after season but has always struggled to convince true F1 fans to invest themselves in it, somewhat down to the lack of speed that the cars carry around the city circuits. That will all change next season however, as it has been revealed that the new car design will be capable of reaching somewhere around the 300kph mark, or 186mph.
That speed puts the Formula E cars just 10-15mph short of the downforce-focussed Formula 1 cars of today, leaving little for electric skeptics to turn their nose up at.
The current Formula E cars max out at around 140mph, smacking into that limit fairly quickly due to the instant electric torque and the gearing setups for the tight city circuits. This jump to 186mph has now been accomplished mostly through aerodynamic work, with the new design being blatantly more efficient for channeling air.
Also contributing to this new pasture of performance is an increase in power helped by the larger 54kWh battery packs now being used.
This information has all been revealed by reigning champion Lucas Di Grassi while speaking to Motorsport.com about the striking new car design for the 2018/19 season.
"The car is more efficient and it has more power," Di Grassi said, "In the current configuration, with the power we'll have available, on a long straight this car could surpass 300km/h (186mph) without a problem, I would expect."
If this prediction proves to be correct, Formula E may look to capitalise on this new-found performance by moving out of street circuits and progressing to Grand Prix tracks where the cars can properly stretch their legs.
To match their Formula 1 counterparts, the cars will have to at least increase the size of the Michelin rubber used to transfer their torque to the tarmac, as F1 cars would currently have a massive cornering speed advantage. But this revelation should make F1 very wary of the progress of Formula E, if it wasn't slightly frightened by the series already.
Are you a big Formula E fan? Or do you still need some convincing? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
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Comments (10)
I don't think that they should race on Grand Prix circuits because then it'll take away one of the series' main selling points which is that it brings the drivers, the cars, the excitement right to the fans instead of fans going to circuits. Also, I don't think F1 should be wary of the progress, F1 is supposed to be the bleeding edge of technology in motorcars, why cant FE be the same for electric cars, and that might also make them faster than F1 cars in the near future but that doesn't mean that F1 will start losing fans, the two series should continue innovating and drive the automobile industry forward
That car is just too beautiful! I need no convincing whatsoever.
It is avery cool looking car and the only one to make that awful halo less awful. It does look like a Bat-Mobile but can it still be considered and open wheeled car? It seems like they merged an Indy car with an LMP.
A F1 rammed up the ass of an F1 boat with wheels
How long can they race for in time