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WHAT’S THE
STORY WITH
FORMULA E?
Formula E – the class of
motorsport that uses only
electric-powered cars – first saw
the chequered flag in 2014.
Contested by 11 teams with two
drivers each, the sport is now in
its fifth season. From season six,
the manufacturers, which
include BMW, Renault, Jaguar
Land Rover and Audi, will be
joined by Mercedes and
Porsche, underlining the sport’s
growing profile.
NOT JUST ON
THE TRACK
Off the track, too, teams are
doing their bit. McLaren
became carbon neutral in
2011, through a combination
of emission controls and
offsets to counteract the
amount of flying the team
needs to do. It recycles waste,
nothing goes to landfill, and
its HQ is energy efficient.
The most significant benefit, of
course, is an environmental one.
While Formula E cars are slower
than their F1 counterparts
(although they can still reach
speeds up to 225km/h),
Formula E cars release no CO2.
Compare that with an F1 race,
with cars releasing 1.5kg of
CO2 every kilometre (nine times
more than a regular car), and
you can see why more and
more manufacturers are getting
in on the act.
And for manufacturers, they get
to design, engineer, test and
evolve electric car technology
before taking it mainstream.
So, is Formula E the heir to the
Formula 1 throne? It’s too early
to say, but certainly, don’t rule
it out.
After all, if it’s good enough for
Leonardo Di Caprio, who
are we to argue?
JUN – JUL 2019 GEMCELL.COM.AU
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