The Formula E Gen3, also known as Spark Gen3 or simply Gen3, is an electric formula race car designed for use in the FIA Formula E Championship. The car is the successor to the SRT05e, and is constructed by Spark Racing Technology. It is used as the base car for all manufacturers and teams from the 2022–23 Formula E World Championship onwards. The upgraded Gen3 Evo is set to be used from 2024–25 season onwards. It is the first ever Formula E car with all-wheel drive to race internationally.[2]
 Daniel Abt driving the Gen3 at a 2023 Berlin ePrix demo | |
| Category | Formula E |
|---|---|
| Constructor | Spark Racing Technology |
| Designer(s) | Alessandra Ciliberti (Technical Director)[1] |
| Predecessor | Spark SRT05e |
| Technical specifications | |
| Chassis | Carbon fibre and aluminium monocoque |
| Length | 5,016.2 mm (197.5 in) |
| Width | 1,700 mm (66.9 in) |
| Height | 1,023.4 mm (40.3 in) |
| Wheelbase | 2,970.5 mm (116.9 in) |
| Electric motor | Various mid-mounted |
| Transmission | Various unknown |
| Battery | 47 kW·h (169 MJ) by WAE Technologies |
| Power | Gen3 Evo: 400 kW (536 hp; 544 PS) Max: 350 kW (469 hp; 476 PS) Race: 300 kW (402 hp; 408 PS) |
| Weight | 760 kg (1,675.5 lb) (without driver) 840 kg (1,851.9 lb) (with driver) |
| Tyres | Hankook |
| Competition history | |
| Notable entrants |  DS Penske / Nio 333 Racing / ERT Formula E Team / Kiro Race Co ABT CUPRA Formula E Team NEOM McLaren Formula E Team Maserati MSG Racing Mahindra Racing Jaguar TCS Racing TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team Envision Racing Nissan Formula E Team Avalanche Andretti Formula E |
Development
editIn July 2020 it was announced that Spark Racing Technology would build the chassis and supply the front axles, Williams Advanced Engineering would supply the batteries, and Hankook would supply all-weather tires that incorporate bio-material and sustainable rubber.[3]
Specifications
editThe theoretical top speed is 322 km/h (200 mph).[4][5] The battery is also designed to handle "flash-charging" at rates of up to 600 kW,[6] allowing pitstop recharging into the championship for the first time;[7] however, the introduction of fast charging has been delayed due to battery issues persistent throughout testing.[8] The wheelbase is 2,970 mm (117 in) and the weight is 760 kg (1,680 lb) without the allocation of 80 kg for the driver, which brings the weight to 840 kg (1,851.9 lb). The electric motor produces a maximum 350 kw in attackmode and 300 kw in race mode. Because of the new front powertrain the GEN3 car is capable of a regenerative possibility of 600 kw (250 kw at the front and 350 kw at the rear) which doubles the amount of regeneration of the GEN2 car (Spark SRT05e). [9] The power-to-weight ratio is therefore roughly equivalent to a Audi RS5 Turbo DTM.
GENBETA
editThe GENBETA is a modified version of the Gen3 racecar. It has enhanced battery output, all-wheel drive, softer iON Race tyre compound, and 3D printed front wing endplates, wheel fins and a wind deflector. It has been used to break two different world records.
World indoor speed record
editDuring the 2023 London ePrix weekend, then-McLaren driver Jake Hughes set a new Guinness World Records for indoor speed by hitting 218.71 km/h (135.9 mph) inside London's ExCeL Centre. The previous record for fastest speed achieved by a vehicle indoors was 165.20 km/h (102.65 mph) set by American driver Leh Keen in a Porsche Taycan Turbo S at the New Orleans Convention Centre in 2021.[10]
Single-seater acceleration record
editIn January 2024, Reem Al Aboud set a new record for FIA single-seater acceleration. She drove the GENBETA from 0-100km/h (0-60mph) in 2.49 seconds, beating the previous benchmark of 2.6 seconds, which was set in a Formula One car.[11]
References
edit- ^ "GEN3 EXPLAINED: Alessandra Ciliberti, FIA Formula E Technical Manager + Gen3 Project Lead". www.fiaformulae.com. Formula E. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
- ^ "Formula E and FIA unveil GEN3 Evo race car capable of 0-60mph in 1.82s". www.fiaformulae.com. FIA Formula E. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ "The FIA and Formula E Build Ever More Relevant Future". www.fia.com. FIA. 1 July 2020. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Formula E and FIA reveal all-electric Gen3 race car in Monaco". FIA Formula E. 28 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ "Formula E Gen 3 Race Car Breaks Indoor Land Speed World Record". gadgets360. 28 July 2023. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "FORMULA E AND FIA REVEAL ALL-ELECTRIC GEN3 RACE CAR IN MONACO". fiaformulae.com/. FormulaE. 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Formula E's Gen3 Regeneration Concept Agreed". the-race.com. the-race. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
- ^ "Formula E fast-charging pitstops definitely shelved for 2023". the-race.com. the-race. 26 April 2023. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "New Gen3 Formula E car unveiled". The Race. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Formula E driver sets indoor world speed record". ESPN.com. 28 July 2023. Archived from the original on 29 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "Formula E sets new acceleration benchmark in motorsport". The Official Home of Formula E. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.