Author: dan

LATEST NEWS

World’s first two-seater electric racing car reveals the battery power of the future

10 January 2023

 

As we head into 2023, electric racing team Envision Racing has revealed the world’s first two-seater electric racing car in collaboration with EV Metals Group (EVM), demonstrating the power of e-mobility for the future.

The car made its track debut at Silverstone, where Sky Sports presenter, David Garrido and Premier League defender, Ben Mee tested the 240kph race car to experience its power themselves. A lifelong fan of motorsport and an electric car owner, Ben Mee is celebrated for being the first footballer to offset the carbon generated by his transfer to Brentford last summer.

 

The race car has been specially created to test and showcase the performance of the latest innovation in battery technology powered by a family of advanced cathode active materials from EV Metals Group that improve performance.

The new racing car’s batteries have about 20% greater energy density than some of the best batteries currently on the market which means a longer range between charges and a maximum output of 250 kilowatts, which is around 326 horsepower.

The new car’s top speed is 240 kilometres per hour, with an acceleration speed of 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.2 seconds.

 

Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director and CTO of Envision Racing said: “With 8.6 million EVs due to be sold worldwide in 2023, it’s clear that we are on the trajectory of electrification and the hunger for EVs is continuing to grow. This new car’s ground-breaking, nickel-rich eLNO® battery technology from EVM could become a blueprint for the next generation of road electric vehicles.

“One of the key functions of electric motorsport is to act as a testing ground for the latest battery innovations. The pursuit of efficiency is embedded into motor racing, so Formula E’s very existence accelerates the quest for new and better battery and electric powertrain technology.

“As the climate crisis escalates, our sport has a unique role to play in accelerating the mass adoption of e-mobility and the transition to clean, green and affordable renewable energy. The idea is that the cutting-edge batteries in this vehicle represent the future of consumer EVs.”

A prototype of the new two-seater car was first unveiled in November 2021 at COP26, the United Nations’ climate conference in Glasgow.

The car’s design centres upon a streamlined, carbon-fibre monocoque platform that’s been engineered to allow the driver and passenger to sit in tandem formation, one behind the other.

Known as the ‘greenest team on the greenest grid’, Envision Racing was the first team in Formula E to be certified carbon neutral by the Carbon Trust in 2020. It is one of a handful of teams to have achieved the 3 Star Sustainability Accreditation from motorsport’s global governing body, the FIA.

 

LATEST NEWS

ENVISION RACING ALL SET FOR THE GEN3 CHALLENGE

9 January 2023

 

 

NEW CARS, NEW REGULATIONS, NEW CIRCUITS AND A NEW SUPERSTAR AT ENVISION RACING, BUT THE ULTIMATE GOAL REMAINS THE SAME IN 2023

 

The waiting is over and the 2022–23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is finally set to kick off amidst the spectacular surroundings of Mexico City.

Fresh from a race-winning campaign in 2022, Envision Racing are ready to tackle the hotly-anticipated Gen3 era of Formula E competition with a refreshed driver lineup, and a host of new circuits to get stuck into with the teams’ dazzling green racing machine.

Last season, Nick Cassidy enjoyed a breakout year in just his second campaign of Formula E competition, bagging two pole positions and a sensational victory in New York City. There will be no return to the Big Apple in 2023, however Cassidy and Envision Racing will still do their thing on North American soil, this time on the West coast in the city of Portland.

For season 9 of the Formula E World Championship, Cassidy will be joined by a living legend of motorsport. Step forward Sébastien Buemi. The Swiss driver claimed the Formula E crown in 2015-16, and to date has 13 victories, 29 podiums and 14 pole positions. On top of  this, Buemi has starred in Formula One, and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans an incredible four times. He is all set for a challenging season opener in Mexico.

“I think for the season opener, it’s a great location,” confirmed Buemi, “the main challenges in Mexico City are the altitude and the high temperatures. The altitude makes it more difficult for the tyres, and for the powertrain to perform at its best, and we will have lower downforce, so there will be less grip. I think we all know the track quite well, even though this year it’s been slightly modified, so we’ll have to adapt. Overall I think it’s a good track. I like going to Mexico.”

 

GEN3: ONE GIANT LEAP FOR ENVISION RACING

 

The 2022–23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will see some big changes to the look and performance of the cars in the shape of the Gen3 era.

In a nutshell, this season will see the debut of the radical third generation Formula E machine, and with it, the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built.

Waving goodbye to the Gen2 cars, fans and drivers will be saying hello to higher top speeds, faster acceleration, and cars will possess more than double regenerative capacity. The new front powertrain will see some 40% of energy used recovered by regenerative braking over a race distance.

Envision Racing’s Gen3 Jaguar I-Type 6 will hit 60mph (100kmh) in under three seconds, and is capable of a 200mph (320kmh) top speed, thanks to its electric motor delivering some 350kw (470bhp). That’s double the efficiency of an equivalent internal combustion engine.

“I think the best thing about Gen3 so far is the fact that the car is just a lot faster,” stated Buemi. “It accelerates faster and It’s pretty impressive to feel that difference in power. I can’t wait to see how it feels over a race weekend, but clearly I think it’s going to be a big challenge. As a racing driver you always love to drive a faster, more efficient car.”

 

JAGUAR POWER FOR ENVISION RACING 

 

Envision Racing will be propelled by a seriously iconic name in the shape of Jaguar for season one of the Gen3 era.

Last year, Envision Racing inked a new multi-year customer supply relationship with Jaguar. The storied manufacturer will supply powertrain technology to the team as both Envision Racing and Jaguar look to add wins and podiums to their legacy, as well as double down on sharing common values, collaborating for a sustainable future through sport.

“The deal with Jaguar is very important for Envision Racing,” affirmed Cassidy. “I think Formula E in general is heading more in that direction where you see manufacturers collaborating with customer teams. We obviously hope that in combination with Jaguar we can do the best we have ever done in the sport.

“They have provided us with a great product, and hopefully as a working relationship between the two teams, we can push each other and achieve some superb results.”

 

EXCITING NEW RACE LOCATIONS

 

One of the coolest aspects of Formula E is that the sport can do its thing in urban areas across the globe, and this unique selling point has allowed the world’s fastest electric motorsport to access some stunning locations.

From London, to New York and from Berlin to Seoul, since 2014 Formula E has gone where more traditional motorsports can’t, delivering top tier wheel-to-wheel thrills and spills on these cities’ iconic streets. Season 9 is no exception, and this year’s calendar sees some intoxicating additions.

After the dust has settled following the season opener at Mexico City, Envision Racing will head to a familiar circuit in the form of a double-header in Saudi Arabia. From there however, it is a trio of unfamiliar tracks as Formula E heads to India and South Africa for the first time, followed by an inaugural visit to Sao Paulo in Brazil.

Following battle in Brazil, the drivers will visit some more familiar circuits, punctuated by a first ever mouth-watering trip to Portland, Oregon in North America’s stunning Pacific Northwest, scheduled for June. After that, it is a couple of double-headers in Rome and London to decide who will win the title.

“I’m really looking forward to the new circuits to be honest,” enthused Cassidy. “I think Cape Town should be an amazing place to race, as will Sao Paulo. Obviously India is a real stand out – it’s a huge country and it is great that top level motorsport is returning there, so that should be exciting. And then obviously with our regular circuits, we’ve got some standout events. There’s no reason why we can’t be strong everywhere.”

“I think Cape Town is going to be a great location,” added Buemi, “I’ve never been to South Africa so I’m looking forward to it. Also Portland and Sao Paulo are very exciting prospects. I know Sao Paulo from the F1 circuit, but I can’t wait to see the new Formula E circuit.”

 

DOUBLE-HEADERS A KEY TO SUCCESS?

 

For last year’s New York E-Prix winner Cassidy, the key to a successful season could be the five double-header race weekends.

These include relatively familiar pastures for the Kiwi, spanning the Riyadh Street Circuit in Saudi Arabia, the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit in Berlin, the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit in Indonesia, and the season ending visits to Rome and London.

Both Envision Racing’s chargers might be excited about competing at Formula E’s newest circuits, but as Cassidy states, it will be the double-header races where major points are gained in the hunt for serious success in the Drivers’ and Teams’ championships.

“I think from the existing calendar you’ve got to focus on the double headers, and it is key to be strong at these races,” said Cassidy. “To have a strong performance in a single race can in a way be unlucky, as it is better to have pace and performance over a two-race weekend so you can get maximum points. If the team can do well at Somewhere with two races, like in New York last year, it can really make a big difference this season.”

Keep up to date with Envision Racing’s fortunes in 2023 as well as race reports and exclusive video content HERE

RACING

OBSESSION BORN OF NECESSITY: ENVISION RACING IS READY FOR THE GEN3 ERA 

12 December 2022

Envision Racing takes the wraps off its brand-new Formula E car as the sport enters an exciting new phase and the greenest team on the grid aim for the top   

 

 

In 2023 the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship kicks off its ninth season of all-electric, top class motorsport action, and series founders and front-runners Envision Racing are back with a bright new livery and a star-studded driver line up. 

Fittingly, the team’s new Jaguar I-Type 6 machine is bright green, visually underlining the fact that Envision Racing are the most active and vociferous advocates of the sport’s green and sustainable message.  

Formula E is the first global sport to achieve net zero, and using this platform, Envision Racing is pushing to make electric mobility and renewable energy a global reality. Both on and off the track, Envision Racing is showing the benefits of electric vehicles and their ability to revolutionise everyday transportation.  

Central to Envision Racing’s new green racing machine is a brand new powertrain  brought about via a bold multi-year partnership with iconic carmaker Jaguar Land Rover. Envision Racing will look to maximise the benefits reaped from this new phase for the team as the sport of Formula E enters its fastest and most competitive era…Gen3.  

January’s Mexico City ePrix will see the dawn of the Gen3 era of Formula E. In short, the cars will be lighter, faster, more efficient, and the technologies featured will be more advanced, with the on-track action set to be closer than ever. In the final season of Formula E’s Gen2 era, Envision Racing signed off in some style. Driver Nick Cassidy took a hard-fought and memorable maiden victory on the streets of New York, and will look to add to this, as well as his four pole positions, in his third season with the team. 

In 2023, Cassidy will be joined by Sébastien Buemi, a man hungry to notch up some more achievements in his glittering career. 

Buemi is a bona fide motorsport legend. The Swiss driver joins Envision Racing at this exciting time with a Formula E title, 29 podiums and 13 ePrix victories to his name. He also comes complete with Formula One experience, four 24 Hours of Le Mans victories and three FIA World Endurance Championships. 

For Envision Racing, it isn’t just about winning and innovating on track. The team are committed to being a positive impact business, inspiring and empowering generations to tackle climate change. Energised by this momentum, the entire team will be combining the serious business of cut-throat motorsport competition alongside tackling the climate emergency.  

The Gen3 era’s technological advancements and innovation as well as Envision Racing’s Race Against Climate Change™ platform is primed to engage and excite fans in the e-mobility revolution and build climate positive actions.   

Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director & CTO Envision Racing said of the launch: “We have officially entered the Gen3 era – the most advanced electric racing car ever built. This car proves that high performance, efficiency and sustainability can co-exist without compromise. 

 For Envision Racing, this reaches beyond our competition on the track. This innovation and ingenuity goes to the heart of our mission – demonstrating the exciting capabilities of an electric future and tackling the climate crisis head on.” 

With the dawning of an all-new faster and more sustainable era of Formula E, Envision Racing are ready to take on the challenge of Gen3 and tackling climate change. From Mexico City to Cape Town, and from Jakarta, Monaco and London, Buemi, Cassidy and the whole team will be gunning for more victories as they push the boundaries of the world’s fastest electric-powered racing series.      

Envision Group’s Franz Jung and Chairman of the Board of Envision Racing added: “This is a momentous moment for our team and the future of electric racing and green mobility. Gen3 provides a new platform to share and inspire generations to tackle climate change and accelerate the transition to renewable energy, supporting Envision Group’s mission to solve the challenges for a sustainable future.” 

Follow Envision Racing throughout the 2022–23 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship @Envision_Racing and check out the team’s YouTube channel HERE.

CLIMATE CHANGE

At COP27, Formula E sets a fast pace in the race against climate change

14 November 2022

 

 

As world leaders gathered in Egypt for COP27 to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally in an equitable way, Envision Racing’s Race Against Climate Change convened for a high-level discussion about the progress being made by the motorsport industry and the positive role of Formula E.

Meeting in Sharm El Sheikh, Sylvain Filippi, Envision’s Managing Director and CTO, was joined by Barbara Silva, FIA’s social responsibility manager, and Julia Pallé, sustainability director of Formula E. The lively discussion covered a broad range of topics, from the importance of technology transfer to advances in the development of batteries.

But the big question for the panel was whether the race to an electric future is being won. Sylvain was in no doubt that huge progress is being made, with Envision Racing and the Formula E FIA Championship playing a significant part in positive developments in battery technology and innovation.

“If you look at what we have done in eight years, the car we are about to race next year is more than three times the power of the car seven years ago,” said Sylvain. “It is much lighter, it is smaller and it compares very favourably to the best racing cars you can think of in terms of performance.

“If you had told that to anyone seven years ago, they wouldn’t have believed you.”

Technological progress on the race track is also evident in the electric and hybrid road cars that motorists are now able to buy. “The road map towards electrification is accelerating even faster than we thought,” said Sylvain.

 

Julia explained that the mission of the Formula E championship is to demonstrate that there are solutions to fight climate change which allow you drive a good car while still making the best choices for the environment.

“Formula E is a fantastic platform to accelerate and push messages to the millions of fans who are watching the sport, because there’s many more people watching sport than reading science or able to understand an IPCC report,” she said.

It is vital for the automotive industry to play its part in sustainability, she said, with transport responsible for between one-third and a quarter of carbon emissions globally. “Motor sport is demanding but also so innovative, agile and creative. We can find those solutions that will benefit the rest of society.”

Barbara highlighted the importance of technology transfer, and the impact on climate change being made by engineers hard at work in the garage on making racing cars more efficient, both in Formula E and in Formula 1. Her recent report on technology transfer had identified a broad range of applications for motor sport technology in other areas of our life; from efficient refrigeration in UK supermarkets to advanced carbon fibre which has reduced the weight of passenger seats in commercial aircraft.

“What this report shows us is that when commit the right people towards an issue and we apply the processes that we have, with our energy efficiency heart, then we can really be very much part of the solution when it comes to decarbonisation,” said Barbara.

There no longer was any real debate about the sustainable future of the automotive sector being electric, said Sylvain. “Everything is going electric.  Not just because we love electric, it is just science.  We can achieve 95% system efficiency from the battery to the wheel. That compares to about 30% for very highly tuned internal combustion engines, and most internal combustion engines run in really bad phases, they only reach peak efficiency when the engine is really warm. A lot of trips are made with efficiency that it is far, far worse.”

Although battery technology has changed little in recent years, new generation batteries were still much more efficient. The next few years would be about scale, he said, with new battery production capacity coming on stream as a result of multi-billion-dollar investment. “This is going to drive down the cost of batteries per kilowatt-hour. Then we’ll get there. So, good news, very clear on that. We know where we are going.”

Watch the full panel discussion here.