Latest news with #JeffDodds
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
EV Quick-Charge Pit Stops Take Formula E Open-Wheel Racing to Next Level
The ABB FIA Formula E racing series is making a big leap forward with Pit Boost technology this season. At select races, the series will for the first time include pit stops for a 30-second EV energy boost. The technology is spearheaded by Chinese automaker BYD. When the ABB FIA Formula E racing series first came to Miami 10 years ago in the series' inaugural season, there were many naysayers who said open-wheel EV racing would never last. Well, Formula E is not only still around, it's back at Miami this month, replacing Portland on the schedule, and still delivering good racing and even more attention-grabbing innovation. The series is a true laboratory for the latest and greatest in high-performance EV technology. This year, the series is making what could be called one of its biggest—or at least most visible—leaps forward on the tech side with its Pit Boost, fast-charging technology. At select races, the series will for the first time include pit stops for EV energy boost. Pit Boost is a quick-charge technology where a 30-second charge of a 600 kW boost during a minimum 34-second pit stop will give the open-wheel race cars a 10% charge of 3.85 kW of energy. Each team will have one boost unit to use. For a two-car team, that means no stacking of pit stops and that strategy for when to make that mandatory one stop will be a key factor in the race. It's a far cry from 10 years ago when Formula E first came to Miami, and range limitations forced drivers to jump out of one car and jump into another at the midway point of a 45-minute race. The company behind the latest energy boost for Formula E is Chinese automaker BYD, which this spring has unveiled a quick-charging option it says will give some of its car models up to 249 miles of range with just a five-minute, 1,000 kW charge. Formula E had its first race with the technology and in-race pit stops for energy at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in February. "I'm delighted to say the technology worked really well," said Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds in an exclusive Autoweek interview. "There were no failures, no cars stopped, no problems. Everything charged properly. And it worked really well. And it created a very different strategy for the race. "It really meant the teams had to work hard to think through the different strategic elements." The series is somewhat soft-launching the Pit Boost technology and its energy pit stops this season—Season 11 for Formula E. The plan calls for it to be used only on Formula E doubleheader weekends, with the next one coming in Monaco on May 3-4. Each doubleheader weekend will feature one race with the quick charge, one without. Formula E visits Homestead-Miami Speedway for a single race on the speedway's infield road circuit on April 12, meaning that fans, unfortunately, won't get to see the quick charging in action. "We know that fast charging is incredibly important for the EV industry," Dodds said. "And if we can demonstrate that in theory in around five minutes you could fully charge an electric vehicle, that's a very powerful message." Transferring that technology to the mainstream is the ultimate goal, of course. Dodds predicts this particular EV tech is 4-6 years from becoming the next big game-changer for Formula E as well as for potential buyers of EVs who are still scared off by range anxiety. "The charger has to be able to access the grid in order to generate that level of power," Dodds said. "The limiting factor is more likely the battery than the charger. Over probably the next four to six years, expect us to move into solid state batteries. As we we move into solid state batteries, which are more energy dense with the latest technologies, that will allow, I think, for the potential of fast-charging to grow exponentially." Currently, Formula E cars use lithium ion batteries. "Solid state batteries today are not really available for automobiles," he said. "That technology has not been put into cars today. We expect to see it over the next four-to-six years. We expect to see it become a mass market proposition. "The benefits will be, first of all, solid state batteries are more energy dense which means the power output will be better and the battery will perform better in extreme conditions, hot or cold. Energy density also means you can have a much smaller battery to generate the same power. Or, you could have the same size battery and generate more range out of it. "The choice becomes yours."
Web Release
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Web Release
FORTESCUE ZERO SUPPLIES FORMULA E WITH NEW ULTRA-FAST PIT BOOST TECHNOLOGY AFTER JEDDAH E-PRIX PREMIERE
Fortescue Zero has today been announced as an Official Pit Boost Provider of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship for Season 11 after its newly developed Pit Boost technology was introduced to the all-electric series at the inaugural Jeddah E-Prix earlier this year. As seen in its premiere in Saudi Arabia during Round 3 of the competition, Fortescue Zero's hardware provides teams competing in the global championship with a +10% boost of total battery capacity in less than 30 seconds. This rapid and efficient ultra-fast booster system has been designed to deliver two battery boosts from a portable unit. The use of onboard energy storage also enables the 600kW boost that is not constrained by grid connection. The ultra-fast technology used for Pit Boost is enhanced by Fortescue Zero's battery intelligence software, Elysia, which allows for the optimisation of speed, while also preserving battery life and integrity. Elysia enables the race car battery to achieve a charging C-rate of around 15C. The Pit Boost technology was first deployed in competition during the Jeddah E-Prix, which was staged at the record-breaking Jeddah Corniche Circuit on February 13, and will continue to be deployed during double-headers as part of the 16-race calendar this season, including rounds in Monaco, Tokyo, Shanghai, Berlin and London. Fortescue Zero has taken its ultra-fast boost innovations and used them to help develop real-world solutions with on-road and heavy industry vehicle applications, including a 6MW fast charger that is designed to be compatible with a wide range of battery electric heavy mining equipment. This process underscores Formula E's position to offer commercial partners and organisations with a world-leading test bed where new products and systems can be developed and integrated into the world championship and beyond. Ellie Coates, CEO, Fortescue Zero, said: 'Fortescue Zero pushes the limits of what batteries, their infrastructure and intelligence systems can do in a safe, tested and innovative way. 'The ultra-fast boost technology used in the Pit Boost, not only takes motorsports to a new level, it also has a flow on effect to real-world practicalities too, including in Heavy Industry and on-road electric vehicle applications.' Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said: 'The successful development and integration of Fortescue Zero's Pit Boost technology has not only been a positive gamer-changer for the racing our fans can expect, but is one of the biggest new features introduced into world-motorsport in recent memory. Not only is it bringing huge new excitement to our racetracks, but allows the series and commercial partners to pioneer cutting edge technology that is directly relevant to road-going EV users. This new technology will have enormous real-world benefits and tangibly contributes to our overarching mission of accelerating the development and uptake of EVs around the world.' The post FORTESCUE ZERO SUPPLIES FORMULA E WITH NEW ULTRA-FAST PIT BOOST TECHNOLOGY AFTER JEDDAH E-PRIX PREMIERE appeared first on Web Release.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Formula E taps star power to help fill gap between seasons
Formula E will plug the near two month-long break between the third and fourth race weekends of the season with a world-first event that will see a group of 11 famous personalities put through their paces to see if they have what it takes to become Formula E drivers. Dubbed 'Evo Sessions', it will culminate in a two-day event at the Miami International Autodrome – the Miami Grand Prix venue at the Hard Rock Stadium – on March 5-6 where the 11 personalities will drive Formula E's GEN3 Evo race cars. That will follow a six-week period where they will each be paired with one of Formula E's teams and put through an intensive preparation period before they get behind the wheel. 'The initial reaction when I presented the concept of 'Evo Sessions' to our teams and partners was, 'this is wild!' – which is when I immediately knew we had to bring it to life,' said Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds. 'We wanted to do something that has never been done before in motorsport; something that would give audiences and our fan base a unique perspective into the world of a Formula E driver, through the eyes of some of their favorite online personalities. 'Formula E is the fastest growing motorsport in the world, and we have a clear target to hit half a billion fans by 2030. Through collaborating with some of the biggest names in popular culture right now, we're able to open up Formula E to a whole new fanbase. 'I've been lucky enough to get behind the wheel of a Formula E racing car, but this event will be truly eye opening on what it takes to be an elite racing driver. It will uncover the world-class ability of the drivers and teams alike and highlight the raw skill and ingenuity we have in the championship.' As part of their preparations, the participants will go through physical conditioning, driver coaching, and engineering briefings, as well as being fitted into their cars – and having things like the seat, seating position, and steering wheel customized to their preferences – and going through simulator sessions. The entire process will be shared in real time on Formula E's social media channels, and later in a feature-length documentary, giving fans a unique insight into the journey a driver takes from being a rookie to a racing driver. Already confirmed as taking part is media personality Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, son of soccer icon David Beckham and pop star-turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham, Argentine soccer legend Sergio Aguero, American actor and motoring and motorsport influencer Emelia Hartford, American tech content creator Cleo, Abram, British actor Lucien Laviscount, and American model and influencer Vinnie Hacker. Announcements of the remaining participants, as well as which person will be partnered with which team, will be confirmed in due course. 'I've loved motorsport all my life, so when the opportunity came to be a part of Evo Sessions with Formula E, I jumped at the chance,' said Beckham. 'I love it as a sport, but it's an incredible opportunity to actually get behind the wheel and experience what it takes to compete at the top level of motorsport. 'The performance of the cars is insane, so I'm pleased I'll be learning from the best in how to get the most out of them.' Story originally appeared on Racer
