1. Formula E . Car Specifications
The Formula E car is 5.1 meters long, 1.7 meters wide, 1 meter high, and has a wheelbase of 3.1 meters and weighs 903 kilograms.
One third of the weight of the car is in the car battery which weighs up to 385 kilograms. The battery located in the Formula E can reach 0-100km per hour in 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 280km/hour. Each car is expected to use a single shift transmission instead of a manual to reduce the weight of the car.
2. Formula E Car Battery
Formula E introduced second-generation or Gen-2 cars in the 2018/2019 season. One aspect that is improved is the battery capacity.
In Gen-1, Formula E cars have a battery capacity of 28kWh while Gen-2 has almost doubled to 52kWh. The increased battery capacity also makes the weight increase from 200kg to 385kg.
However, the increased battery capacity means that Formula E drivers don't have to change cars in the middle of a race like the Gen-1 era.
3. Formula E . Race Format
Formula E racing carries a one-day race completed from the Free Practice session in the morning to the Race or E-Prix in the afternoon.
However, specifically for the E-Prix edition in Saudi Arabia, the series of races was held for two days. The first Free Practice was held starting on the first day at night, then qualifying and the race was held the next day.
Formula E carries the concept of racing for 45 minutes plus one lap. This is different from Formula 1 which has a predetermined number of laps. Thus, Formula E races produce a number of laps that tend to be different in each edition.
4. Features Attack Mode and Fan Boost
The unique thing in Formula E is the two features Attack mode and Fan Boost to increase the car's power during the race.
To get Attack Mode, racers must pass a special zone that has been determined by the organizers one hour before the race.
Drivers must press a special button on the steering wheel to get additional power from 200kWh to 235 kWh.
While for Fan Boost, the audience can vote on the Formula E website to choose their favorite racer.
The selected racers are entitled to power up to 250kWH which is the maximum power of a Formula E Gen-2 car.
5. Speed Vs Efficiency
On paper, Formula E still lags behind Formula 1 in terms of speed. Formula E has a top speed of 280km/hour while Formula 1 can reach 300km/hour.
However, Formula E prioritizes efficiency in every race. One example is a brake feature called Regenerative Brake.
When the racer steps on the brakes, the brakes will automatically generate electrical energy that flows into the battery for charging.
