Formula E selects new powertrain manufacturers

For the inaugural season, all 10 Formula E teams use the same Spark Renault SRT_01E chassis driven by a powertrain supplied by McLaren Electronic Systems.

Six of the new powertrain manufacturers are already running teams in the series: Renault (through e.DAMS-Renault), ABT Sportsline, Andretti, Mahindra, Venturi Automobiles and Virgin Racing Engineering. The other two are series newcomers Motomatica and NEXTEV TCR.

From next season these manufacturers will be able to produce their own powertrains – specifically the e-motor, the inverter, the gearbox and the cooling system. In third season, manufacturers will be able to use their own batteries with the aim being to use one car for the duration of an ePrix race. Currently each driver is forced to switch car mid-race.

Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, said: “It’s fantastic for Formula E to have this many manufacturers wanting to be a part of the championship after just four races, and shows great confidence in the series.

“One of our objectives from the beginning was to promote technology competition but we cannot do that as organisers of the championship, we need ‘actors’ to join and to develop technologies to fight against each other in the races. Through this fight we improve the technology and then with this improved technology we improve electric cars in general.

“We expect more manufacturers to join from season three onwards and we’re already talking with many different manufacturers and also OEMs.”

Formula E has also revealed the layout for the German round of the series to be held in Berlin on 23 May. The 2.47km, 17-corner track will be constructed on the apron of the old Tempelhof Airport located near the city centre.

German driver Nick Heidfeld, who races for the Venturi Formula E team, said: “It’s going to be very special racing in front of my home crowd and I’m really looking forward to it. It will be the first time for me racing on somewhere like this so should have its own special atmosphere.

“It looks like it’s going to be a very twisty and challenging circuit with 17 turns in under 2.5km and I think the fans are going to have great visibility wherever they are. When I spoke to some friends recently they were all interested in coming to Berlin and I hope there will be a lot of other fans who will come and join us for the race.”