After several months of occasionally intense competition, Formula E’s first season of all–electric racing is over. Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird has won the second race of the London ePrix, while NEXTEV TCR’s Nelson Piquet managed to do just well enough (seventh place) to win the overall driver’s title by a single point. Picquet’s chief rival, Sebastian Buemi secured the team title for E.dams–Renault becoming the first ever Formula E Champion winning the London race on June 27th.

This is the beginning of something much larger for high–profile EV motorsports. All teams and drivers used the same car for the first season in order to establish the championship, although Formula E is an ‘open championship’ and in season two, the gloves will really come off, when teams can use their own motors and batteries, giving car manufacturers and constructors the opportunity to showcase their innovations in a racing environment. 

This could result in a handful of manufacturers dominating the races simular to Ferrari’s Formula 1 streak and lead to technological improvements that filter down to the variety of electric vehicles produced and made available for consumers. 

 ”Formula E will be more popular than F1 in five years” says Sir Richard Branson.

The 64–year–old previously ran an F1 team back in 2010 under the Virgin Racing name but failed to score a point in their two years of operation.

He said: “I think there’s still going to be room for Formula One for a few more years. But there will come a time when Formula E will take over Formula 1.” 

“I think in four or five years you will find Formula E taking over from F1 in terms of number of people.”

“As time goes on, the clean energy type of business will power ahead of other businesses.”

”The future of motorsport is here, and it’s set to change motoring in general”.

Branson also believes that within the next 20 years, every brand new road car will be an electric powered vehicle, adding that the current technology was “antiquated”.

FIA chief Jean Todt believes that both Formula E and F1 can run alongside each other and insists that they are not competing with one another.

Formula E 

Formula E is the brainchild of the FIA. Designed to use motorsport as an avenue to promote the electric car industry and use the series as a framework for research and development. 

It’s hoped Formula E will increase the use of electric cars, especially in urban areas, and to improve our environment and way of life. Formula E represents a vision for the future of the motor industry over the coming decades, serving as a framework for research and development around the electric vehicle, accelerating general interest in these cars and promoting sustainability.

The inaugural season begun in September 2014 with a total of 11 races, all in city centres in some of the worlds leading cities and finished in June 2015.

Formula E believes that cities are the natural environment for electric cars and that racing in urban environments will best promote the use, and popularity, of these vehicles.

The decision to host the international sporting event in a city centre was an important goal for Formula E so that electric cars are promoted and seen in their preferred environment; an urban area. 

The majority of the world’s population live in cities which is also where most of the world’s cars are driven, usually covering very short distances. This environment is ideally suited to the electric vehicle as it can easily cover the ranges required whilst producing zero emissions. 

Formula E plans to ‘leave a legacy’ in each of the cities it visits by installing charging points and other electric vehicle infrastructure which can be enjoyed by all again and again. Meaning that while the initial set–up cost is expensive overall costs will come down year–on–year.

Are you considering Joining the Electric Revolution? Traction can answer your questions: Call 028 90 30 9000