Formula E Gen3 electric race car revealed with 320km/h top speed and no rear brakes

The all-new third-generation electric racer is smaller, lighter and more powerful than its predecessor. Also, it has no rear brakes!

Formula E has taken the covers off its radical third-generation all-electric race car that is promised to be “the fastest” yet.

Looking more like a jet fighter than a car, the new Formula E racer has been developed to be lighter, faster, and more efficient than its predecessor.

The biggest innovation on the ‘Gen3’ electric racer is a new 350kW electric motor on the rear axle.

It’s capable of propelling the single-seater to a top speed of 320km/h, according to Formula E.

That rear motor is joined by a 250kW electric motor at the front axle, its primary aim to provide – in tandem with the rear motor – energy regeneration.

Formula E claims a total of 600kW of regeneration is available and that up to 40 per cent of the energy used during a Formula E race will be produced by the car itself.

The addition of the front powertrain means that new Formula E racer is not fitted with rear brakes. Stopping power now comes courtesy of front brakes and the twin electric motors’ regenerative capabilities.

The new car is both smaller and lighter than its predecessor. The wheelbase has been reduced by 130mm to 2970mm while the entire car tips the scales at 760kg (without the driver), a 60kg saving over the previous ‘Gen2’ racer.

Founder and Chairman of Formula E, Alejandro Agag said, “With every generation of race car we push the boundaries of possibility in EV technology further and the Gen3 is our most ambitious project to date.”

More details about the car and the forthcoming ninth season of Formula E – which commences later this year – are still to be revealed.

Seven manufacturers have confirmed they will contest season nine of the FIA Formula E World Championship – Porsche, Jaguar, Nissan, DS Automobiles, Mahindra, Nio and Maserati.

The latter joins the grid for the first time, and will go some way to plugging the holes on the grid left by the departure of Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW in recent years.

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