Formula E car

As of 2024 there have been three major generations of Formula E cars: • 1st generation (2014–15 to 2017–18) • 1st season: 2014–15 • 2nd season: 2015–16 • 3rd season: 2016–17 • 4th season: 2017–18 • 2nd generation (2018–19 to 2021–22) • 5th season: 2018–19 • 6th season: 2019–20 • 7th season: 2020–21 • 8th season: 2021-22 • 3rd generation (from 2023) • 9th season: 2022-23 • 10th season: 2023-24 == 1st generation (2014–15 to 2017–18) ==

}}Even though the FIA originally planned for the category to be open to various chassis manufacturers, the only licensed Formula E model for the inaugural season (2014–2015) was the Spark-Renault SRT 01E. The electric components were assembled by Renault while the chassis was designed by Dallara, and the car was assembled by Spark Racing Technology. In Season 2 (2015–16), the SRT_01E was opened up for private development of the motor, gearbox and rear suspension by the teams. The specifications for the Spark-Renault SRT_01E are: == 2nd generation (2018–19 to 2021–22) ==

| Peak: | Attack Mode: | Race: }} | Front: 278 mm Brembo carbon disks & calipers | Rear: 263 mm Brembo carbon disks & calipers with brake-by-wire }} }}In March 2016 it was decided by the FIA and Formula E Holdings that the upcoming 2nd generation cars would keep to a specification chassis in a bid to keep costs low in the category. The tender for the 2nd Generation car was won by Spark Racing Technology. The original battery specifications requested in the tender included a cell-weight limit, a 200 kW peak power limit, and a maximum usable energy of 28 kWh. For the 2018–2019 season, the specifications for the battery was a weight of and 54 kWh energy, and peak power was 250 kW. The cells (18650VTC6) was to be made by Murata Manufacturing, the integration by Lucid Motors, and track handling by McLaren. Also new for the generation 2 cars was the inclusion of a halo crash protection device. A refreshed 'Gen2 Evo' car was planned to be introduced for the 2020-2021 season, but was cancelled due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and was instead replaced with the Gen 3 car. The specifications for the Spark SRT05e are: == 3rd generation (from 2022) ==

| Front: disks & calipers | Rear: Brembo single-use emergency disc brake }} }}The 3rd generation of Formula E cars are lighter and smaller than the 2nd generation cars to allow for more wheel-to-wheel racing. It will be the first formula car with both front and rear powertrains, with a 250 kW motor-generator on the front axle being used for regenerative braking and a 350 kW motor on the rear axle powering the vehicle. Performance-wise, the 3rd generation Formula E cars are expected to achieve around 2 to 4 seconds faster lap times in both qualifying and races compared to the 2nd generation cars. After 2 seasons, the car was upgraded to the Gen3 Evo model, which features grippier Hankook tires and the use of the front motor to deploy for all-wheel drive traction in qualifying and Attack Mode to address criticisms about poor grip and the weak effect of Attack Mode in the initial seasons. Additionally, the front wing was replaced with a more robust design. The specifications for the 3rd generation Formula E cars are: == 4th Generation (2026 onwards) ==

The Generation 4 car is set to make its race debut at the 2026/27 season. It will run in permanent four-wheel-drive specification as opposed to the current car, where four-wheel drive is only active in the duel phase of qualifying, the race start, and in attack mode. == Transmission ==

During the first season in 2014–2015, all teams used a Hewland 5-speed sequential gearbox operated by the driver semi-automatically via paddles on the steering wheel similar to other racing series. In the following seasons, regulations on gearboxes have been relaxed, and some teams have chosen to use either single-speed gears or all the way up to four gears. A transmission with multiple gears can help keep the motor in its most efficient operating range, but whether an electric car needs multiple gears in the transmission depends heavily on the torque curve of the motor at different rotational speeds (r/min). By season 4 in 2017–2018, all teams were running single-speed gearboxes. Some single-speed Formula E cars have sometimes erroneously been described as having a "direct-drive" powertrain. However, FIA regulations for the gen 1 and 2 car have mandated a reduction gear, and Formula E cars without multi-speed gearboxes have thus far had a single-speed gear rather than a true direct-drive mechanism. Gen 4 cars will run in permanent four-wheel-drive specification as opposed to the current car, where four-wheel drive is only active in the duel phase of qualifying, the race start, and in attack mode. == Sound ==

The second generation Formula E car from 2017 had a noise level of about 80 decibels, which is 10 dB louder than an average petrol road car or about as loud as a domestic vacuum cleaner. == See also ==