Formula E and the FIA have revealed the all-new GEN4 race car, the fastest in the championship’s history.
It is also the series’ most sustainable race car, and features a circular design that could set an example for vehicles both on and off the racetrack. 
The GEN4 will be the first single seater permanent four wheel drive car and has already achieved top speeds well over 200 mph in testing. 
The new generation of battery allows for racing power to be 450 kW and the aerodynamics create “almost double” the downforce according to Marek Nawarecki, Senior Circuit Sport Director at the FIA.
Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, says that the test driver “cannot get out of the car without having a smile”.
The GEN4 car’s top electrical power delivery is 600 kW in Attack Mode with 700 kW of regeneration available through braking. 
It is bigger and has more power, alongside being 100% recyclable and made from 20% recycled parts. 
Beth Paretta, VP Sporting at Formula E, explains: “That process was working with those suppliers from as soon as they were awarded the tender. 
“The sustainability element of this was woven in with meetings through the entire process, from design concept to then sourcing, supply chain procurement and then ultimately delivery.”
Sylvain Filippi, Envision Racing’s Managing Director & CTO, says: “The GEN4 car is a huge leap in performance, reinforcing our position at the pinnacle of motorsport, with the fastest accelerating race car on the planet. 
“But what makes this truly inspiring is that it has been achieved whilst prioritising efficiency and sustainability, proving that ‘sustainable’ doesn’t mean compromise. 
“Our team mission has always been to accelerate the adoption of EVs powered by renewable energy, and the new Formula E car will be a huge enabler of that.”
Bridgestone will be the tyre supplier for the GEN4 car, set to begin racing in Season 13 that begins in 2026. 
Creating innovative technologies that translate from track to road is “why our manufacturers are in this championship”, Jeff says.
“Fundamentally, the manufacturers are in it because of the transferability between the racetrack and the road. 
“If we’re talking to our manufacturer partners, they would say they view the racing circuit as a laboratory and they get to test new technologies and develop new technologies.
“There are many stories over the years where Jaguar and Nissan and different manufacturer partners have discovered things within the racing programme that have allowed them to deliver a more efficient product on the road for domestic passenger vehicles.”
Porsche says that its upcoming Cayenne Electric brings lessons directly from its Formula E experience with the Porsche 99X Electric.
"Formula E is our development lab for the electromobility of tomorrow. This is where we gain valuable insights for our road-going sports cars," says Dr Michael Steiner, Member of the Board of Management for Research and Development at Porsche. 
"The new Cayenne Electric shows how quickly such a technology transfer takes place at Porsche and how relevant our commitment to the electric racing series is to series production."
Both the Cayenne Electric and 99X Electric use direct oil cooling of the electric motor and Pit Boosts have been translated to fast charging that enables more than 300 kilometres of range to be added in 10 minutes.
Mareck says that he expects the GEN4’s electronics, controls and powertrain development methods to become part of new EVs on the roads.
“The GEN4 will be a clear step forward for road relevancy in terms of electronics and traction management alongside some technologies which will be used for the development of the powertrain,” he explains.
“We had long, extensive discussions with the manufacturers on that aspect, and it has been designed to allow the manufacturers to experience the newest technologies they have which are very relevant for the road cars being developed now.”
An impactful, interesting car winning races on track could influence more consumers to opt for EVs over fossil-powered cars.
This, in turn, could help to reduce transport’s impact, accounting for a fifth of all global CO₂  emissions according to the IEA. 
[Additional interviewing by Lucy Potter]
VP, Sporting
Member of the Board of Management for Research and Development
Chief Executive Officer
Circuit Sport Director
Managing Director & CTO
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