Formula E is a highly competitive, fully electric racing series that was started in 2014 in Beijing. It was granted the status of the World Championship by the FIA in 2019 to become the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
It is also the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint from inception
Back in 2011, on March 3, Spanish businessman and founder of Formula E Alejandro Agag and FIA president Jean Todt had a casual interaction about the all-electric international single-seater championship concept at a restaurant
However, it soon turned into reality in less than a year when an all-electric car (Gen1) was unveiled in 2014-15
The inaugural season that was held across 14 countries saw Lucas Di Grass foraying into the record books by winning the first race held in Beijing
Apart from offering great entertainment, the racing series promotes the adoption of sustainable mobility to battle air pollution and mitigate the effects of climate change
The new Gen3 race cars are used in the race. With a top speed of 322km/h (200mph), these high-speed cars will blow the world away when they hit the track for the first time in Mexico in January 2023
Gen3 cars are also the most efficient formula cars as almost 40% of the energy utilised by the car during the race is generated by a regenerative braking system
The tires of the car are made of sustainable and natural materials like natural rubber and recycled fibers that offer sufficient grip and stability in all weather conditions
The Gen3 cars come with a 600-kWh battery pack and they can fast charge up to 800 kW during the pit stops
In Formula 1, drivers compete against each other over a pre-determined number of laps. However, the Formula E race is quite unique as it lasts for 45 minutes plus one lap
First, the drivers have to race for 45 minutes and once the time is up, the drivers are expected to complete one more full lap. And the driver who crosses the finish line after this wins the race
25 points are allotted for the race winner, and the 10th-position driver is allotted 1 point
A total of 11 teams, with 2 drivers each, will battle against each other in the season. The 11 teams include both manufacturer and customer teams
Formula E doesn’t need any special tracks as it takes place on temporary tracks that are built on the main streets of the cities
In Hyderabad, the track named ‘Hyderabad Street Circuit’ is built on the banks of Hussain Sagar