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preview explainer season 11

PIT BOOST EXPLAINED: All you need to know about Formula E's battery charging pit stops

Explainer 09 Feb 2025 5 Mins

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will debut its ultra-fast recharging technology – PIT BOOST – in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this weekend.

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preview explainer season 11

Article by Katy Fairman

Season 11 has brought a lot of change to the Formula E championship. There’s a new race car – the quickest accelerating FIA single-seater capable of 0-60mph in just 1.82 seconds – as well as some fresh faces, different calendar destinations and now a groundbreaking feature that will shake up race strategies even more.

PIT BOOST, which will debut during the upcoming double-header in Jeddah, is set to transform in-race strategies and provide teams with a revolutionary recharging technology during the already unmissable races.

WATCH: Find out where to watch every Formula E race via stream or on TV in your country

Here is everything you should know ahead of its introduction this week.

What is PIT BOOST?

PIT BOOST is an innovative and mandatory mid-race feature that sees cars given a 10% energy increase (3.85kWh) through a 30-second, 600kW recharge in the pit lane. It will be used during one of the two races across a double-header.

All drivers must stop during the race for this extra energy, however each team is only provided one PIT BOOST charger which prevents them from doing any double-stacking. This will also create plenty of drama and excitement, as each competitor navigates an additional element of race strategy and could potentially alter race outcomes and tactics.

In Jeddah, drivers must take the PIT BOOST when their State of Charge (SoC) is below 60% and above 40% at the moment of the charge. The timing of this could vary from garage to garage depending on the strategy of consumption each driver has during the first phase of the race.

Drivers must serve a minimum pit stop time of 34 seconds, with 30 seconds of that being allocated for the charging itself. This new sporting feature is a huge technological step forward in EV charging, deploying significantly more power than current consumer superchargers.

SYNC: Don't miss a minute of Season 11, sync your calendar to find out where to watch and how to buy tickets

It is another opportunity for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to push the boundaries of electric mobility and demonstrates the championship’s unique position as a ‘race-to-road’ technology platform.

How does PIT BOOST work?

Each team will be provided with a PIT BOOST unit which is plugged into the rear of the GEN3 Evo cars during their mandatory stops during the race. There will be a personnel limitation of two mechanics and one pit crew member to hold the stop-go lollipop during each PIT BOOST.

When a driver is within the SoC window, which the FIA will determine before each race, they will arrive into the pit lane and come to a complete stop outside their respective garage.

Once the car is stationary in its allocated pit stop position, with no tyres outside of the white lines, the 10% additional energy (+3.85kWh) can be added to the race cars in the form of a 30-second charge at 600kW. The car can be released if safe to do so and a minimum pit stop time of 34 seconds has been served.

Pit stops will be monitored by the FIA, Formula E’s governing body, and reported to the Stewards if the process was not done within the guidelines provided to all teams.

In the rare case of a technical issue with the PIT BOOST equipment, two spare chargers are available at the FIA garage and can be used with authorisation from the Race Director.

Can changes be made to the car during PIT BOOST?

Formula E sees some very close racing due to its competitive nature, and that can sometimes lead to bodywork needing to be swapped out! If a car does require work – such as a new front wing – PIT BOOST must have been completed and unplugged beforehand.

Work is allowed on the car post-PIT BOOST and also counts for the minimum pit stop time. Other team members are allowed to help, in addition to the three original team members who performed the PIT BOOST.

If a driver has picked up a 5-second or 10-second time penalty, these must be served before plugging in the PIT BOOST charger.

Is ATTACK MODE still available during races?

Yes, ATTACK MODE is still a popular part of Formula E races in Season 11.

DRIVER LINE UP: Who's racing in Formula E in 2024/25?

Introduced in Season 5, ATTACK MODE sees drivers pick up an extra 50kW of power to take them to 350kW and all-wheel drive (AWD) for a limited time during the race. This maximizes acceleration and control, elevating the thrill of critical race moments and generating some incredible overtaking opportunities.

However, this extra hit of power needs to be taken at the right time, as drivers must go off the racing line to pass through the ‘activation zone’ and could potentially see you lose out on places. However, the sheer speed and grip they’ll receive will make them a big threat to their competition ahead.

Drivers must take ATTACK MODE twice during a race, but can choose with their engineers how to deploy that extra power over the eight minutes of allocated time.

SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix Rounds 3 and 4

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been a part of the Formula E calendar since Season 5, but for the first time we’re heading to Jeddah. Host to the fist double-header of the GEN3 Evo era, the grid will be racing under the floodlights on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 February 2025.

Rookie Free Practice: Thursday 13 February, 18:00 local/15:00 UTC

Free Practice 1: Thursday 13 February, 21:00 local/18:00 UTC
Free Practice 2: Friday 14 February, 13:00 local/10:00 UTC
Qualifying: Friday 14 February, 15:20 local/12:20 UTC
Race: Friday 14 February, 20:05 local/17:05 UTC

Free Practice 3: Saturday 15 February, 13:00 local/10:00 UTC
Qualifying: Saturday 15 February, 15:20 local/12:00 UTC
Race: Saturday 15 February, 20:05 local/17:05 UTC

View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.

Follow the race LIVE and listen to full race commentary on web and in the Formula E app!

Follow all the action on-track as it happens in the Race Centre.

Keep across Live Timing – which includes a real-time interactive track map and the ability to follow your favourite driver during every session of every E-Prix – plus highlights, detailed session reports, exclusive interviews, all the standings and results as well as data, insight and reaction from trackside.

LIVE: Follow every lap live, with reaction and coverage at fiaformulae.com/live

Additionally, Formula E’s social media channels, website, and app will provide session reports, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights from trackside during the four-day event.