BMW will apparently join the FIA Formula E championship next year as its own manufacturer. The fifth season will also see a lot of changes making it all the more exciting.
The Formula E is a class of auto racing that only uses electric-powered cars. It was first conceived in 2012 and the inaugural championship was first launched in Beijing in September of 2014.
There are currently ten teams, with two drivers per team. For the first season, all of the teams were given an electric racing car called the Spark-Renault SRT 01E. It was built by Spark Racing Technology, had a chassis design by Dallara, and an electric motor developed by McLaren. It is the same one used in its P1 supercar. The electric race cars used a battery system built by Williams Advanced Engineering with a Hewland five-speed gearbox.
The second season saw new regulations which allow for new powertrain manufacturers. The teams are now allowed to build their own inverter, gearbox, electric motor, and cooling system. However, the battery and chassis all remain the same. At this point, several teams wanted to start building their own powertrains.
According to a report by Racer, BMW has officially registered to be its own manufacturer team with the Formula E for its fifth season. Previously, they partnered with the Andretti Formula E team and now wants to shift its strategy to its own factory works team.
In addition, the 2018 to 2019 season will also debut a redesigned Formula E chassis. It will still be built by Spark Racing Technology and also have a standard battery from McLaren Applied Technologies.
In another report by Fox Sports Asia, the next season will be the first time that the Formula E cars can go the full distance on only one battery. Previously, teams had to have a mid-race car change.
The BMW i has been one of the Official Vehicle Partners of the FIA Formula E Championship since the beginning. The BMW i8 has functioned as the Race Director Car, Safety Car, Medical Car, and Rescue Car. It has served all roles during the series.
How will the German team do next season as their own manufacturer? Share your thoughts and comments below.
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