This mechanism, which can be used from the second lap of each ePrix, will give cars a temporary but considerable (+25 kW) power boost. 

Vehicles will be able to go from their usual 200 kW to 225 kW. In a way, it functions like the DRS of Formula 1. In this case, a hydraulic device installed on the rear wing of the Formula 1 cars facilitates overtaking by decreasing the downforce or drag.

To activate the Formula E attack mode, drivers must press a button on the steering wheel but they can only do so in certain areas of the circuit. The increase in power will help drivers defend their position or overtake an opponent at particular points during the race.

To make it easier for the audience to know the precise moment when drivers are using the attack mode, a virtual reality graph will be shown on screen. This will depict the activation zone, superimposed in the right sections of the circuit. Also, and depending on the power mode used by each driver, the car will be made stand out with different fluorescent halos.

In this way, when the blue halo is turned on it will indicate the activation of the Formula E attack mode, whereas when this changes to pink, the driver will be using the ‘Fan Boost’, with a power of about 240-250 kW. To avoid any confusion, Formula E organizers have published a video which is included below.   

The new cars 

The other much-awaited change of this seasons’ eco-racing competition is the debut of their second generation cars. The longer lifespan of the Gen2‘s batteries means teams will no longer have to change cars in the middle of the race, as they used to do in previous editions when batteries were depleted.

The SRT-05 (technical name of the Gen2) aesthetics are also revolutionary compared to those of its predecessor. The new cars are 5.16 long, 1.77 meters wide and 1.05 meters tall and boost a much more attractive design. Their minimum weight is 900 kg (driver included), of which 385 correspond to the battery. Top speed, arround 177 mph.

Important modifications have also been carried out under the Dallara chassis which are meant to make cars faster than their previous edition. In addition to that, there have been improvements made to the low sound of the propeller, one of the greatest technical challenges of the electric vahicles.

Formula E’s chief Alejandro Agag has confirmed that the Gen2 car will be on the tracks for four seasons, one more than originally planned. The Spaniard has also clarified that the car will undergo some modifications in its final year, as requested by the competition’s manufacturers.

13 races & 22 drivers

The calendar of the Formula E 2018-2019 Championship is made up of 13 races in 12 cities starting on December the 15th with the Saudi Arabian e-Prix at the urban circuit of Al Diriyah. There will be 11 teams and 22 participants including former Formula 1 drivers Felipe Massa and Stoffel Vandoorne, Fernando Alonso‘s teammate at McLaren until 2018.

Formula E attack mode Main image: YouTube.

Text image: KAgamemnon Wikipedia.