Formula E could keep mid-race car swaps until season six
The delay in Formula E's adoption of open battery competition could coincide with the championship postponing its switch to single-car races until its sixth season
The championship's roadmap targets the removal of the mandatory mid-race car swap for the 2018/19 campaign.
As reported by Autosport, current supplier Williams is to be tasked with designing an upgraded battery for seasons three and four.
That would give way to open battery competition in season five, in theory timed to coincide with dropping car swaps.
Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag told Autosport the season five deadline for single-car races was not set in stone.
"We are to see if it's possible without sacrificing too much performance," he said. "We want to keep the performance high.
"The idea is year five, it could be year six."
It would be difficult for a car to complete the current ePrix duration, around 50 minutes, on one battery unless wireless charging technology is implemented or significant gains are made on energy regeneration.
If that is not achievable the battery's current 28kWh energy capacity would need to be doubled for a full race distance to be completed with one car, a feat Williams doubts is possible given the current technological limitations.
FORMAT CHANGE BEING DISCUSSED
Agag said a change of format could be on the cards but dismissed suggestions the championship could drop longer races with car swaps for shorter single-car races just to appeal to sceptical manufacturers such as BMW.
"There is some discussion about maybe changing the format," he confirmed. "But we're not there yet, we're looking into it together with the FIA.
"That [moving from car swaps to single-car races] would be a very, very graphic way to show the big jump in technology that will be produced.
"The important opinions for me are the opinions of the manufacturers in the championship.
"The opinions of the manufacturers outside are less important."
Autosport understands a change in format could result in more events becoming double-headers in similar fashion to the season-ending London round, and single-race events having slightly altered Saturday timetables.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
The driver who can wreck F1's "super exciting" 2020 silly season
Red Bull's Verstappen now has basis for first F1 title challenge
Ferrari: Mick Schumacher a good candidate for seat in Formula 1
Live: F1 Chinese GP updates – FP1 & Sprint qualifying
How real-time scrutineering ensures fair and consistent competition in motorsport
How MotoGP brakes work: Secrets of stopping a 220mph bike
Hyundai enacts contingency plan after WRC Kenya fuel issue
How Porsche won, lost and won in Misano Formula E mayhem
How Guenther’s patience provided his Tokyo Formula E triumph
How brilliant Bird survived the heat to end Formula E win drought in Sao Paulo
How Cassidy surprised himself to storm to Formula E's summit in Saudi
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments