The A-Z of Formula E: C

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The A-Z of Formula E: C

The A-Z of Formula E: C

The FIA Formula E Championship is the world’s first all-electric single-seater racing series. But what do those words actually mean, how does the technology work, and who are the key players behind the scenes?

Read on to find out more…

 

C

 

Car swap

One of the main differences between Formula E and all other forms of motorsport is the mid-race car swap.

The reason for the car swap is that at present, the cars are only able to run for roughly 25 minutes at racing speeds before the 28kWh of energy in the battery is used up. While the option of running two ‘sprint’ races was examined, the conclusion was reached that a 50-minute race with a mid-race car swap would make for a better spectacle.

The car swap has created an element of strategic variation that has made the races unpredictable. The teams and drivers have the potential to go hard and fast in the open stint, try to build up a lead or race through the field, knowing that they’ll probably have to pit earlier and conserve energy later in the race. While doing the opposite, and extending the opening stint for as long as possible in order to go hard in the end, can also pay dividends.

It was through clever use of tactics that Lucas di Grassi was able to win the Season 3 Mexico City ePrix despite dropping to the back of the field following a rear wing change.

The reason that the drivers change cars rather than swap the battery in and out is that the battery and its casing form part of the crash structure of the car. It was down to this integral strength that the battery in Nick Heidfeld’s car remained attached to the chassis despite the high-speed impact of his infamous crash in the inaugural Formula E race.

 

Carpentier, Patrick

The Champ Car race winner is the official ambassador for the Montreal ePrix. With a racing CV that covers everything from NASCAR to Rallycross, Carpentier is the perfect person to represent the first-ever all-electric single-seater race in Montreal, which will draw Season 3 to a close with a double-header event on July 29/30.

Carroll, Adam

Adam Carroll drives for the Panasonic Jaguar Racing team and picked up his first Formula E points in the Mexico City race earlier this year. Carroll won the A1GP title for Team Ireland, and was a star of Formula 3 and GP2 during his junior career

Cerruti, Michela

Michela Cerruti was a part of the Trulli team line-up for the first four races of the inaugural Formula E championship. Her best result came in Punta del Este, where see spent much of the race on the fringes of the points, eventually coming home 12th.

Chandhok, Karun

The ex-F1 racer started his Formula E career on a high, qualifying fourth and finishing fifth on his debut for Mahindra in Beijing. He was in the points again next time out in Putrajaya, but that would be the final time he troubled the scorers over his 11 ePrix.

Charge

Charge are the Official Truck Supplier to Formula E. The company’s specially-converted open-top truck is used to transport all 20 drivers for the track parade, which takes place ahead of each ePrix.

Chargemaster

Chargemaster is the Official Charging Infrastructer Supplier to Formula E. It’s wireless charging pads ensure that the official course cars supplied by BMW I are always full of juice and ready for action.

China Racing

Team China Racing was one the second team to confirm its participation in Formula E. Originally founded to compete in A1GP, China Racing surpassed all previous levels of success it had experienced as Nelson Piquet Jr won two races on his way to winning the inaugural drivers’ title. During Season 1 it signed a sponsorship agreement with NextEV, which initially led to the renaming of the team and then to a full takeover of all the racing operations.

Conway, Mike

Brit Mike Conway joined the Venturi team midway through Season 2 in place of Jacques Villeneuve and made an instant impression by making Super Pole on his debut in Buenos Aires. However, he would have to wait for the race in Long Beach to score his first point. He made a one-off return to the series in Season 3, racing for Faraday Future Dragon Racing in Paris, and has on a number of occasions sat in the commentary box, acting as an expert analyst on the world feed,