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By Nin-Chin
#337686
The FIA has announced that it will host a Formula E race around the streets of Rome when the championship launches in 2014.

The new championship for electric cars will see races taking place in city centres, with Rio de Janeiro confirmed as the last race of the opening season in 2014. Rome has been announced as the latest host city today at a press conference at the Campidoglio, after Lucas di Grassi displayed a prototype car on the streets around the Colosseum.

Bernie Ecclestone was keen to take Formula One to Rome but while that move never came to fruition, FIA president Jean Todt has been able to ensure Formula E will include a round in the city. The CEO of Formula E Holdings, Alejandro Agag, says the announcement is important to the championship's success.

"It's great news for the championship," Agag told ESPN exclusively. "This is the first city we're announcing in Europe - we already had one announcement in South America; Rio de Janeiro - and actually we have already lined up another five or six cities to announce, but to make this first announcement is a big moment for us. Especially a city like Rome which is going to deliver an amazing show with all the monuments as a backdrop so we're really very excited."

While Formula One is just attempting to re-establish itself in the United States, Agag said Formula E would have a major presence there from its birth.

"We are announcing two races in the US - in really big cities in the US - and it's really exciting because this championship is really catching a lot of traction in the United States and their passion for electric vehicles and clean mobility is very high there, we are realising."
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By FerrariFan63
#337791
If they want renewable fuels then they can switch to alcohols. As used in the states.

The electric car races seem interesting though. Changing cars every 15-20 minutes isn't too bad for an hour race. Given how short some of the electric motorcycle races are, that's quite good by comparison. TTXGP races are 20 miles.
By What's Burning?
#369410
ESPNF1 It emerged today that Formula E has signed a broadcasting deal with the Fox Sports Network that will see the new electric racing championship aired in more than 80 countries across the world when the series gets underway in September 2014.

It's an impressive result for the nascent championship, which now has the potential of being beamed into millions of homes around the world.

"This global broadcasting deal will bring our Championship to nearly 90 countries and a potential 180 million households worldwide, giving our partners, our teams, and our team's partners a platform to visualize the association to the values of this competition," explained Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag. "We are particularly happy to join FOX at the time when FOX Sports 1 is being launched. America is a key market for electric cars and to show our races live in the US will be central to promoting this type of mobility."

With only three of the debut season's ten races taking place in Europe, the Formula E calendar is heavily weighted in favour of countries served by FOX.

But the demographics of the FOX coverage mean that while viewers in the Americas and across swathes of Southeast Asia will have access to televised Formula E, Europeans curious about motorsport's foray into the electric world will not. Given that the creation of Formula E was triggered by the European Union, who asked the FIA to use motorsport to promote and stimulate electric vehicle development, this is unfortunate.

The real feather in Formula E's hat comes thanks to the US arm of the deal, which will see all of the races broadcast live on the FOX Sports 1 channel. This is more than Formula One has been able to manage; NBC streams all races live, but only selected grands prix are shown live on the network. But Formula E can boast two US races and one home grown team, while it has been a long time since F1 has offered American fans a local team or driver to get behind.
By What's Burning?
#373974
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Wired The first all-electric auto racing series kicks off next year, and if you’ve never been interested in open-wheel racing, Formula E stands to be more entertaining than F1 and more spectator-friendly than WRC, and the pit stops don’t just involve swapping tires or batteries, but switching cars.

Formula E is not only the first EV racing series, but it has the backing of the biggest organizing body in motorsport, the FIA. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile is the same group behind Formula 1, the World Rally Championship, the World Touring Car Championship, and the World Endurance Championship, which governs everything from the 6 Hours of Spa to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And the FIA is putting its considerable weight into making Formula E the next great evolution in racing.

The series kicks off in September of 2014 and runs through June of 2015, with 10 teams running through the streets of 10 of the world’s most iconic cities. The schedule is set to include London, Berlin, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Beijing, Bangkok, and Purtrajaya, as well as stateside races in Los Angeles and Miami. But more impressive than the teams competing on street courses — something sorely lacking in modern racing — are the cars.

The race is being run as an “open championship” which means each manufacturer and constructor can develop the electric drivetrain anyway they see fit, as long as it conforms to the FIA’s technical specifications. This is a massive departure from most motorsport, including F1, where each team is required to run the same engine, with the same displacement and same technology. There are some limitations when it comes to the hardware and software in Formula E, but how the systems handle output and power preservation are completely open, which the FIA hopes will spur electric drivetrain innovation.

So far, three teams have signed on to compete next year, including Drayson Racing (which has set a series of EV speed records), China Racing (which ran in the now defunct A1GP), and Andretti Autosport (you know the name). But the first car to be homologated by the FIA comes from a joint venture between Renault and Spark Racing Technology.

The Spark-Renault SRT_01E tips the scales at an FIA-mandated 800 kilograms (1,793 pounds) — including the 441 pounds worth of lithium-ion batteries — with a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber making up the body and underpinnings. The chassis is made by Dallara, the same outfit behind IndyCar, and is designed to make overtaking easier, ratcheting up the excitement. Along with a sequential gearbox with fixed ratios, the chassis is designed to be cost effective for teams to run, while the double steel wishbone suspension has a higher ride height than traditional open-wheeled racers to allow the teams to handle the rough roads of city circuits.

The electric drivetrain and corresponding electronics are supplied by McLaren, while the Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS = batteries) come from Williams Advanced Engineering — two companies with serious racing cred.

The motor is good for a maximum output of 200 kW (270 horsepower), but that power is only allowed to be used continuously during practice and qualifying. During the race, the cars are forced into a power-saving mode of 133 kW (180 hp), but drivers can apply a “Push-to-Pass” system that boosts the electric motor to its maximum output for a limited period of time. The FIA estimates that in full 270-hp mode with the race-specific treaded Michelin tires a Formula E racer can go from 0-60 MPH in three seconds, while the top speed is limited to a rather anemic 140 MPH. The pace is expected to be on par with races like F2000 or Formula Mazda, and yes, traction control isn’t allowed.

But the two biggest questions about Formula E is how the teams plan to recharge and what the cars will sound like at full tilt.
The FIA says that races will run approximately one hour, with each driver making two mandatory pitstops to change cars. During the downtime, the cars will be charged (although it’s unclear how), and unless there’s a puncture, tire changes aren’t allowed.

As for sound, the cars will actually be louder than the average road car. With tire, motor, and aero noise, the SRT_01E clocks in at 80 decibels at high speed, with your minivan running at about 70 dB and an F1 car shrieking to 150 dB. Additionally, an artificial tone developed by a sound designer will be required when the cars enter the pits to keep mechanics and marshals safe.
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By Denthúl
#380995
Excellent stuff, the series is shaping up nicely. The recent addition of Super Aguri was quite nice to see! Does anyone have any idea which channel it will be shown on in the UK? I'm hoping to get to the London race if it's not too expensive. :)
By LRW
#380997
I was just trying to find that out. Seems a UK broadcaster hasn't been announced yet. :(

I might try and get to the London race too. Its only 18 months away !!
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By geetface9
#407698
I'm already planning on going to the race in Long Beach, California as it's only about six hours away from Phoenix, where I live. It's nice cuz I can leave in the morning, watch the race, and drive home all in the same day so I won't have to pay outrageous hotel prices
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By spankyham
#417005
I just switched on the Formula E. The first motor sport where, if the driver is in a hurry he can get out and walk. :hehe:
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By racechick
#417023
Wow!! Just watched the last few laps of the race. Prost look out Heidfeld after he overtook him for the lead at practically the last turn. Drama!! heidfelds car turned over and over. Di. Grassi inherited the win. Clock up Prost!!
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By stonemonkey
#417025
Stupid move, no wonder Alain turned away.
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