Formula E!? Electric race cars? Don’t they run out of juice? Is the racing any good? As a gear head, one of the most important things about a car is the noise it makes. So, how do we embrace something that doesn't make any noise?
Introduced in 2011, the Formula E race takes place on city circuits across the globe. It’s the brainchild of Jean Todt, the president of the FIA, who saw that the electric wave was taking over the world, & that there was a need to combine the pure love of racing & preserving the environment. So when the world gives you electric cars, you race them.
The idea was to bring racing directly to cities that are most affected by the problem of emissions- cities like Rome, Hong Kong, Berlin, NYC, Marrakesh, &v Mexico City. To show those citizens that clean energy can be fun, the future of speed is electric powered, & that electric motors are no slouches. So far it has worked. The fourth season has brought close to half a million people to its races.
The race format is similar to Formula 1 - practice, qualifying, race; but the race has a set time, 45 minutes + 1 lap. So whoever is first, wins. Points structure is similar as well, meaning there is a constructor championship (the manufacturer) & a driver championship.
At this time, there are 11 teams with 2 drivers per team. The racing is wonderful, although quiet. You just hear tire screeching, but these cars are capable of 174mph and get to 60mph in less than 3 seconds. And more importantly, the biggest problem of “how long can this car go on one charge?” has been addressed. All the cars can now last the full duration of the race!
As begrudging as it may be, we have to remember, electric powered cars are the future. So, what is there to lose? If you like our planet, you like racing, like watching racing with a beautiful city backdrop, check out Formula E.