In Beijing 2014, the first ePrix in history was held.
This is the name given to each Formula E
competition
, the first electric category developed by the
International Automobile Federation
(FIA).
The inauguration was in the Olympic park of the Chinese city, which was the center of attention in motor sports for a revolutionary concept: competition with vehicles exclusively powered by electric batteries.
Beyond the great novelty of those times, in which the new wave of electric propulsion was installed in the automotive industry and therefore unleashed motor sports,
Formula E remained over time
, despite criticism from the fans, who cling to the traditional and underestimate this new alternative.
The cars are surprising for their technical evolution, although they have characteristics that do not usually agree with the palate of the iron lover.
These vehicles do not make noise, just a hum when passing at maximum speed, which can exceed 300 km/h
.
And pilots should worry more about energy recovery than keeping their right foot flat.
The main brands of the automotive industry have passed or are currently in Formula E.
No one wanted to miss this great display of high technology with electric batteries
, knowing that the international market is increasingly occupied by this type of vehicles.
Already
15% of total global automobile sales correspond to those powered by electric energy
.
And what better than to show up in Formula E to establish the technological vanguard.
Although the top representatives of the industry have passed or are here (from Mercedes-Benz or BNW, to Jaguar and Audi, among others), Tesla, a disruptive company if there ever was one, was conspicuous by its absence.
It only uses two types of tires, since the minimum consumption of any material that could be harmful to the environment is promoted.
(Xinhua)
The Nissan team is the only one of the Japanese brands that competes in Formula E.
And the Franco-Argentine driver Sacha Fenestraz races there (the two flags are on the team's poster),
who despite being born in France, his heart is in the province of Cordoba.
“
I love racing the San Pablo ePrix, because it is the closest to home
.
In fact, my friends come to bring me salami from Colonia Caroya
,” the 24-year-old boy comments with great sympathy.
“These cars are the most efficient on the planet. Because not only do they use all the energy from the batteries, but also when braking they can regenerate up to 40% of the energy during a competition
,” comment the Nissan team engineers, in a tour that Clarín took through the pits.
The San Pablo sambadrome is a party.
The activations within the property are amazing.
Each brand has its stand, which does not skimp on economic resources, for entertainment, but fundamentally in the message to the public: the importance of taking care of the planet and not wasting energy.
There is no category in the world that has such movement off the track, like Formula E with its attractions driven by automotive terminals and companies linked to energy.
“The pilot must be very intelligent, in addition to being fast.
All the drivers start with the same amount of energy, but they, together with the engineers in the pits, must know how to manage it very well
, to maximize the resources on the track
,” they explain within the Nissan team, where 29 people work.
The car is a GEN3, the latest evolution of these cars that are already disruptive in design, with a triangular format.
They weigh just 850 kilos, with the pilot included.
In the past, each driver had two vehicles, since the batteries were not enough to complete an ePrix, so in the middle of the race they entered the pits to change cars.
“You have to be very cautious and be very attentive to the energy that is consumed.
For example, when you brake the car, it does not do it like a conventional sports car, but rather we have three stages.
First we stop accelerating, then we touch the brake pedal and finally we go full throttle, in this way we stretch the energy recovery process, which is vital for a competition
,” explains Sacha.
In the meeting with the pilot under the merciless São Paulo sun that leads the thermometers to read more than 40 degrees, he brings a steering wheel from his car, to make the most pedagogical explanation:
“This steering wheel costs approximately 7,000 euros.
And it is very complete.
Some things are secret, like the knobs on the left, but from here we regulate the front and rear brakes, and change the impeller mapping, according to wear on the track and battery consumption.”
The ePrix is not at Interlagos, the classic São Paulo road course.
These types of competitions are developed, mostly, within the cities,
with street layouts or in this case the sambrodrome grounds
.
In fact, this weekend the competition takes place in this place, while in Interlagos the crowds flock to the Lollapalooza music festival for three days.
Although most of the car is conventional for all teams, the rear part of the vehicle is developed by each brand.
This is where differences can be established.
Although not everything that is seen is what makes the evolutions.
“Here each team has its software.
And the work of the engineers with each driver determines whether they are competitive or not”
, they stand out within the Nissan structure, which is preparing for the arrival of Formula E in Japan, with the next Tokyo ePrix, on the following date.
The Swiss driver of the Envision Racing team, Sebastien Buemi, participates in free practice 1 of the San Pablo Formula E E-Prix, at the Sambó circuit.
(Xinhua)
Formula E only uses two types of tires, since the minimum consumption of any material that may be harmful to the environment is promoted.
That is why we are also working on recycling batteries.
In fact, there are no plastic bottles to drink water.
It is sold in cans, for example.
Formula E passes through South America.
Previous years he knew how to run in Buenos Aires, Punta del Este and Santiago (Chile).
Since 2023, it has stopped in San Pablo, within the calendar that contains 16 dates, starting in Mexico and ending in London.
While after a decade the discipline is still trying to seduce motorsport lovers, Formula E, with a totally new concept, maintains its technological, aesthetic and disruptive line, focusing all its energy on the advancement of a discipline that is amazing. , although this has not yet achieved the approval of the ironworkers.