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Formula E teams will each outfit two drivers for a total of four Spark-Renault SRT_01E vehicles. (Photo by Formula E)
A sport traditionally known for fuel and excess is turning the auto-racing world on its head. Federation Internationale de l’Automobile will launch its 10-race Formula E Series in Beijing, Sept. 13. The 10-city series has a nobler mission than just making money, focusing on education about and promotion of electric vehicles.
FIA President Jean Todt decided it was the right time to launch a fully electric racing series due to the right balance of circumstances. Not only is sustainability becoming a larger focus worldwide, but also green technology continues to improve and increase in affordability. Urban areas are also feeling the crush of pollution.
“As such, reducing pollution in these cities has become key,” said Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E. Switching to the use of electric vehicles is a practical solution to lessen pollution in highly-populated areas, but some people are still resistant due to their unfavorable perception of electric cars. “People view them as ‘slow’ and ‘uncool,’ so this is where Formula E comes in.”
“We, acting as a catalyst, hope to change these views through motorsport,” Agag added. “By racing in cities, the preferred environment for electric vehicles, at speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour we can show people that electric cars are no longer what they think.”
LONG-TERM IMPACT
Chris Frampton of CDC Entertainment, the official Formula E concert promoter, said that the legacy of Formula E has the potential to change the future.
“If kids start supporting Formula E, they’ll start to learn about the energy technology, become engaged about driving those cars and, when they become drivers, they’ll be looking at the emissions coming out of their personal cars or start encouraging their parents to drive more efficient vehicles,” said Frampton. “We are living, breathing history — and the breathing is getting better with every electric car that people start.”
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The schedule for the inaugural season of Formula E.
Formula E Holdings commissioned an impact report by Ernst & Young to estimate what is possible over the next 25 years. The report claims that as a result of Formula E, an additional 77 million electric vehicles will be sold worldwide in the next 25 years, leading to a 17-percent increase in the market share of electric vehicles and more than $190 billion in sales in the automotive industry.
Jason Rittenberry, president & CEO at IRG Sports + Entertainment, the parent company of International Raceway Group and the International Hot Rod Association, said that, while motorsports has been a bit slower to implement sustainable technology than other sports, it’s becoming vital to make an effort to go green.
“Sustainability is important to our fans, our corporate partners, and important to our stakeholders, so for motorsports to continue to grow as an industry, we have to get on board,” he said.
Typically, racing across all series has been about burning fuel to make power for fast cars. Now, sustainable efforts are being considered when governing bodies are making the rules to develop a series.
“It’s no longer about burning as much fuel as possible because the cars don’t have to go quite as fast as long as the racing is good,” Rittenberry said, adding that a fan watching a race isn’t necessarily going to know if a racecar is going 204 mph or 180 mph. “As long as the cars are running competitively and they’re all side by side, the fans are fine with it.”
SUSTAINABLE SEASON
The inaugural series will consist of 10 races, with two additional races added for the 2015-2016 series, 14 total races in the 2016-2017 series, and 16 races in the 2018-2019 series. Additional cities for the upcoming seasons have yet to be determined.
The Formula E series kicks off in Beijing, which Frampton said is the perfect place to start the Formula E journey because of the reported severe smog problems plaguing the city. The track will wind around the city, encircling Beijing’s Olympic Stadium.
The series has booked Long Beach (Calif.) ePrix for April 4, retaining Grand Prix Association of Long Beach to facilitate its operations. The event comes just before the association’s annual Grand Prix, which will hold its 41st iteration April 17-19. The weekend between the two events, Formula Drift will take over the track. The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach brings an estimated 180,000 spectators over three days, leading to an economic impact of about $35 million. Long Beach ePrix will only be a one-day race, but admission will be free as part of Formula E’s legacy program.
“Formula E is going to do a free event at two locales, here in Long Beach and also in Monaco, two of the best-known straight races in the world,” said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian.
The series can afford to make both Long Beach ePrix and Monaco ePrix free events because of scheduling. With Long Beach’s Grand Prix hosted soon after, Formula E can use a modified version of the race’s circuit. Likewise, the 2015 Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix will be held May 21-24, shortly after the May 9 ePrix event.
“Their costs aren’t nearly as high as they would be had Formula E had to go out and commission a full temporary circuit to be built here or in Monaco,” said Michaelian. “It gives them some major economies of scale.”
Frampton said that the Chinese State has gotten behind Formula E, supporting the program by providing facilities for the concerts. The night before the race will feature a concert with a local artist requested by the Chinese authorities, while the main performance event will be held the next night.
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Formula E teams test cars in front of the Houses of Parliament in London. (Photo by Formula E)
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT
It’s not just the cars that have gone green, the entire operation including concert series is being planned as sustainably as possible. Hanergy Solar Group Limited will serve as the official solar energy partner of the Beijing ePrix. Hanergy’s rapid deployment solar power system will be installed throughout the event space to offset energy use and cost of the event. DHL serves as the transport partner for Formula E and is working with the series to find environmentally friendly modes of shipping.
CDC Entertainment is focusing on working with people in the local community and companies to do work on-site as opposed to shipping equipment thousands of miles. Likewise, if the artist wants a 50-piece orchestra, Frampton will encourage them to use local talent as opposed to flying in the London Philharmonic.
These efforts are all monitored closely by the series, which has a designated Sustainability Chief.
“We call him the sustainability police, but some people call him a lot worse,” said Frampton, jokingly. If the sustainability regulators aren’t happy, Frampton and his crew keep brainstorming and researching until a better option appears. As part of the planning process CDC Entertainment is exploring where its power will come from in terms of solar or wind and encouraging suppliers to work with renewable energy sources.
“It’s to the point where we’re encouraging the local taxi companies to buy a few battery-powered cars,” said Frampton, who added that the artists will be picked up in electric vehicles.
He estimated the initial monetary and time costs as being higher than a traditional series, but said he believes future savings will more than recoup it.
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LOOKING THROUGH GREEN GLASSES
The cost to field a team will follow the same pattern. The 10 participating teams from around the world will have two participating drivers who run two Spark-Renault SRT_01E Formula E cars each, switching vehicles midway through the race as opposed to charging up a new battery. From season two, teams will be allowed to design and develop their own cars.
“Added costs really come in when you consider that each team had to go out and supply two drivers and four cars,” said Michaelian. “There’s a lot of savings that you realize with gasoline and working on the car, but it’s a doubling of costs to supply the second vehicle.”
Rittenberry said that long term savings make up for high initial costs, with teams avoiding fuel costs each week and the necessity of rebuilding engines on a weekly basis.
“It’s going to even out to be about the same, at least in the estimates I’ve seen, but we don’t know because no one’s run a full season yet,” he added.
Tickets for the Beijing ePrix are priced $75 for lower grandstand seating and $115 for upper grandstand access. To compare, tickets for the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit, April 20, ranged from $126-$531.
Several big names from Formula 1 and other racing series have come on board for Formula E, including Mike Conway, who won Long Beach Grand Prix in IndyCar in 2011 and 2014, and former Formula 1 drivers Jaime Alguersuari, Jerome d’Ambrosio and Bruno Senna, nephew to F1 legend Ayrton Senna.
“What we’re doing with Formula E is establishing the credibility of the cars in the first place, and there’s nothing better than to have racing drivers of pedigree endorse the products,” said Frampton.
Frampton said that the overarching message of Formula E is to discover the best, most efficient way to live in today’s world.
Interviewed for this story: Alejandro Agag, +44 (0) 77 5694 3899; Chris Frampton, +44 (0) 77 2525 6840; Jim Michaelian, (562) 490-4514; Jason Rittenberry, (561) 622-1400