Racing to the future at 200 km/h

Racing to the future at 200 km/h

All revolutions have a starting date and crucial events that are then handed down by history as symbolic days. For electric mobility, 13 September 2014 is one of those moments

All revolutions have a starting date and crucial events that are then handed down by history as symbolic days. For electric mobility, 13 September 2014 is one of those moments.

Few people thought it would actually be possible to create a world championship for fully electric racing cars. But when 20 full-electric single seaters turned up at the Beijing circuit to participate in the first ePrix in history, even the most skeptical observers had to change their minds. Formula E was officially born.

 

The Courage of the Future

The idea of a car series for racing automobiles powered by electric engines was conceived in 2012. It was promoted by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the same organization whose name is linked to Formula 1 and rally world championships.

This visionary and revolutionary idea aims at directly accessing the exclusive élite of automobile races in order to immediately perform on the world stage of championships.

The challenge set by FIA president Jean Todt was taken up by automotive manufacturers such as Renault, Audi, Mahindra and historic Formula 1 brands such as Dallara, Williams and McLaren. The undertaking was made possible by the determination of Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag.

“This spectacular series will offer both entertainment and a new opportunity to share FIA's values for clean energy, mobility and sustainability. The FIA is definitely looking to the future!”
Jean Todt, Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) president
 

A Natural Alliance

Formula E cars race in city circuits. The ePrix takes place in London, Mexico City, Paris and Buenos Aires. Nine teams from countries including the United States and China, and pilots who have racing in their DNA. Senna, Prost, Piquet: racers who have followed in their fathers' footsteps and whose names are well known to Formula 1 lovers.

The single seaters are the result of strategic partnerships aimed at promoting the development of the most cutting-edge technologies, in the hopes of making Formula E a laboratory that races towards the future of sustainable mobility.

“Enel and Formula E are natural partners, as we both embrace the exciting opportunities in electric mobility, smart cities and the clean energy revolution”
Francesco Starace, Enel CEO

Enel has become a Formula E global power partner E, having acknowledged this vision. We will join forces to continue this pioneering work and accelerate the innovation used for electric mobility.

This is a new testing ground to assess and improve our most cutting-edge technologies in the field of renewables, smart grids and energy management.

 

Sustainability for All

Thanks to the partnership that started at the ePrix in Berlin (21 May 2016) we will be alongside Formula E for two championships, with the possibility of extending the agreement beyond the 2017-2018 season.

“We are achieving a completely digitised and mobile small grid based on smart metering technology, to increase the energy efficiency of the whole competition”

Thanks to 'Made in Enel' technology, the teams will be able to know their overall consumption, the audience will interact in real time with an advanced energy system, and the power grids of the cities that will host the grand prix will not be overloaded.

By the 2017-2018 championship, Formula E will install a combination of solar panels and glycerin-fed generators connected to an innovative storage system that will provide the energy required for each event.

Our LED lighting devices, public recharge stations for electric cars and renewable generation systems will help turn the ePrix into carbon neutral events and up-to-date examples of a fully sustainable future for each city.