With the Gen4 car, Formula E wants to guarantee close competition in the championship – In addition, the cost-benefit ratio should be right
Formula E is already working on the development of the fourth-generation car, which is to be used for the first time in the 2026/27 season. According to Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo, the idea of competition is at the top of the list when designing the car. But the costs should also be kept in check so that the electric world championship remains economical in the future.
On 31 August 2023, the bidding process to decide who will supply the chassis and batteries for the Gen4 car is due to be completed. A highlight of the new car is the doubled power output of up to 600 kilowatts. The aerodynamics of the Gen4 are also to be significantly improved: There will be one configuration for more downforce and one for less downforce. In addition, the car is to be 100 millimetres larger and 76 kilograms heavier.
With a sophisticated format, Formula E also wants to ensure that the championship remains exciting until the last race. That is why the aerodynamic packages are to change again and again and also the power output is to vary between 300 and 600 kilowatts. “It’s about finding a balance between cost, technology and development,” says Longo.
“I’m a motorsport fan and I want to see close competition, so that’s a priority for us. That’s even above speed. Once we’ve made sure there’s competition between teams and up to five drivers can fight for the title, only then will it be interesting to bring a more powerful car.”
Longo said the jump from Gen1 to Gen2 was “massive” and the Gen3 car was also a “huge” step for Formula E. With the Gen4 car, Formula E is looking to make another big leap to advance the championship. “We need to show that the technology is evolving and you can go faster for longer, even if the technology had its limitations at the beginning.”
For the 2024/25 season, the current Gen3 car is already set to receive a major upgrade to set the stage for Gen4. Who will build the new car will be decided in October 2023, and according to Lucas di Grassi, the performance of the cars plays an important role, which is why he believes the timing for the generation change is just right.
“We have reached a point in the technology where we can unleash a lot of performance. Formula E has matured to the point where the increase in performance could have come with Gen3, but this way we can make it even better with Gen4,” he says. With more power also comes more respect from fans who say they couldn’t drive a 1,000-horsepower car themselves.
“It’s like a fighter jet because there’s so much power involved,” di Grassi explains. “It’s so fast that you need many hours of training to master it. It’s not like a normal person could drive a Formula E car, at least not at the level we drive at. Nobody can even come close to keeping up,” was the clear statement of the Brazilian, who has been part of Formula E since the 2014/15 season and is one of the veterans of the championship.
