Constructor Batteries Four Seasons Away
The idea of Formula E constructors being able to produce and race their own batteries will remain a plan for now. It is understood that the idea won’t become reality until at least season five. In the interim however, there is another plan afoot. By season three, a common, newly designed lithium-ion based battery is to be introduced via a joint effort by Constructors.
Here is what FIA Formula E CEO had to say at Battersea Park’s media event last week:
“The problem is that as we’ve been really looking in to the cost of developing a proper battery with all the latest technology available for year three, the cost is about £5m…maybe more than that (for just the R&D with the existing cells as well). We thought, ‘Let’s tell the teams to slow down a bit, pool their resources together and develop one battery.’ It will be a state-of-the-art battery, but they will all have the same. There is a new battery coming that is probably going to be better than anything than the teams would have done themselves separately. I don’t think there’s anything ready apart from lithium-ion for season three. For season five, I don’t know, hopefully…maybe lithium-ion with other components. There are all these new chemistries coming out, so if anything is substantially better, we will definitely go for that.”
Image:FIA Formula E
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