Formula E technologies to make its way to production cars

Having been to multiple Formula One races, it's a little bizarre to see 20 single-seater race cars making so little noise at a race. Even cheers and whistles from the spectators in the Grand Stand seem to surpass the sound from these race cars. And that's saying a lot because the crowd is a lot smaller than what I would usually see at a Formula One race.

When the race cars zoom pass me, I hear nothing more than just a whine. If I was blindfolded, I could easily confuse them with modified electric scooters. Plus, the only smoke that I could smell at the race track wasn't from the car's exhaust or caused by burnouts from the race cars. Instead, it's from cigarette butts.

However, on closer look and harder concentration, I realise that the whine becomes more urgent, the cars are lightning quick and keeping up with the pace on the track clearly requires an intense focus as drivers compete for first place.

Welcome to the third season of the Formula E Championship Series - the electric equivalent to Formula One - where the race commences here in Hong Kong and concludes in Montreal, Canada, in July next year.

A total of 12 races will be held this season around 10 cities, with New York and Montreal being the only two cities where two races will be completed over a weekend each.

Similar to Formula One, a Formula E race car looks like a work of art, with lean, mean and good-looking drivers to fit the part. However, these two championship races differ in more ways than one, which includes the fact that a BMW i8 is used as safety vehicle in Formula E. In contrast, the Formula One safety car was the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT-S since the 2015 season.

With its fully electric race cars, Formula E sets itself apart from the highest class of single-seat racing Formula One by sending a key message: Manufacturers are not in it for the fame or the fortune. Instead, they're in it to innovate and develop the technology behind electric cars, which will in turn trickle down to everyday road-going battery-powered cars in future.

This is one of the main reasons that has led British manufacturer Jaguar to take part in the all-electric single-seater series. The other reason, like all race car teams, is to aim to be as successful on the track as they are off it.
Speaking to Team Director Jaguar Racing James Barclay, he explains the British marque's reasons for competing, "We wanted to be racing again but we needed to do it for the right reason. That's where Formula E comes in. The championship race is relevant for our future as we will be building electric vehicles."

"Still, our expectations are in check for our first season as our competitors have a two-year head start. Ultimately we want to be successful on and off the track," he added.

While Barclay is unable to elaborate more on Jaguar's electric future, he adds that the traction of Formula E is that it's truly a global championship where races are held in the most iconic cities in the world like the one here in Hong Kong. The approximately 2km-long track ran around Central Harbourfront, featuring 10 turns and a half a kilometre main straight.

During the 50-minute race, Jaguar Racing drivers Adam Carroll, 33, and Mitch Evans, 22, started steadily and strong. By the end of it, however, Carroll finished 12^th place while Evans could not complete the race due to electrical issues with his race car.

Not too shabby considering it's the brand's first time taking part in this all-electric motor racing series.

Moreover, unlike drivers from Formula One, drivers face unique challenges in Formula E as they have to manage battery consumption and regeneration of the battery to maintain charge throughout the race.

Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi, 28, from team Renault e.dams took the chequered flag.

Race Director Jaguar Racing Craig Wilson said, "Jaguar is certainly committed in being successful in Formula E. A lot of lessons were learnt in Formula One and it’ll be similar for this."

Wilson also happens to be the Managing Director of Williams Advanced Engineering, the sole supplier of the batteries that power the cars in the electric race.

Although something as clean and green as Formula E isn't quite the muscular mission of Formula One, it still manages to keep you on your feet during the race, thanks to the full boost of the cars' 225km/h top speed on the straight and constant overtaking action at hairpin turns.

After all, this is where adrenaline-pumping sport and sustainable mobility meet.