The third-gen Formula E car was revealed over this past weekend in Monaco and it boasts a new exterior design and some impressive statistics that are testament to the development that has taken place in the series over its sub-decade existence.
While the new Spark Gen3 model, revealed by the motorsport’s governing body in Monaco can achieve a top speed of 322 kmh, other improvements in the series include improving sustainability of production for these silent apex hunters while a bold new exterior aesthetic conceals all mechanical bits. The FIA says it represents the “pinnacle of high performance, efficiency and sustainability”.
Watch Ryan O’Connor interview Formula E Team Principal James Barclay here.
The third-gen Formula E cars which will take to the racetrack competitively at the end of the year for the advent of the ninth World Championship season of the series. The models have been specifically tuned for street circuit racing which makes the future challengers ideally suited for the city streets of the tentatively planned E-Prix in Cape Town for 2023.
On the performance side of things, the third-gen Formula E car has front and rear drive from a 350 kW motor, essentially making it an all-wheel drive Formula car – not something conventional to the tier of motorsport. This also means that its regenerative capability has improved to 600kW, a figure more than double the outgoing Gen2. The new model is also capable of fast charging at 600 kW mid-race. Formula E technical manager and Gen3 project lead Alessandra Ciliberti stated: “Everything we’ve done has promoting technology transfer from the race track to the road in mind.”
On the sustainability front, batteries will be recycled after their lifecycle and linen and carbon fibre are composed in the bodywork to reduce the car’s overall carbon footprint by more than 10%. Tyres will be manufactured from 26% natural rubber and recycled fibres.