What sorts of offsets does the organization focus on? Different opinions exist regarding their effectiveness, and they are not all equal.
The organization primarily concentrates on the creation of renewable energy, as it provides the most significant positive impact when using electric vehicles. Whenever possible, they utilize technology within the countries where they race—such as solar and wind farms in Mexico City, for example.
They are also investing in carbon capture and removal technology, aiming to support its development. Although this technology is progressing rapidly, it remains an emerging field.
What makes the organization significantly less carbon-intensive than Formula One?
The organization minimizes its carbon footprint by reducing the amount of product transported on the road. They limit the number of cars, tires, spare parts, and personnel to the absolute minimum required, fitting everything into the fewest possible crates for transport. Whenever feasible, they use road or sea freight, resorting to air travel only when necessary. The entire racing series can fit into three airplanes, and efforts are underway to reduce this to two.
Furthermore, the organization is exploring technologies like sustainable aviation fuel, which was trialed during one of the races last year when moving from Berlin to the subsequent race.
Has technology from the sport trickled down into consumer vehicles since the first race in 2014?
The technology exchange works both ways. The organization has benefited from global motor manufacturers’ investments in EV technology, utilizing some of the brightest minds in the original equipment manufacturers for battery development and EV powertrains. Conversely, manufacturers benefit from participating in a racing series that continuously pushes technological boundaries.
For instance, the Jaguar Formula E team discovered efficiency improvements between the battery and powertrain on the racing track. This insight allowed Jaguar Land Rover to update the software on their I-PACE electric cars remotely, extending the battery range by approximately 25 to 30 kilometers overnight.
Similarly, Porsche has incorporated features from the racing series into their consumer vehicles. An example is the integration of “attack mode,” which provides an additional 50 kilowatts of power during specific parts of a race. This feature is now available in the new Taycan, allowing users to unlock extra power.
With the significant increase in EV adoption since Formula E’s inception, does this change the future goals of the organization?
The organization’s vision has indeed evolved since 2014. At its inception, around 800,000 EVs were sold globally that year. In contrast, the last 12 months have seen sales of between 15 and 20 million EVs.
Originally, the goal was to encourage consumers to consider purchasing electric vehicles. Now, the focus has shifted to increasing the current 50 percent EV adoption rate to 100 percent by enhancing the technology. The organization is dedicated to improving battery technology, fast charging times, and overall performance to accelerate EV adoption.
Jeff Dodds will discuss these topics at the WIRED x Octopus Energy Tech Summit at Kraftwerk in Berlin on October 10. Tickets are available at energy-tech-summit.wired.com.
