FORMULA E CASE STUDY
16 RACE WINS & 4 OUT OF 6 DRIVERS / MANUFACTURER CHAMPIONSHIPS
MOTOR AND INVERTER SUCCESSES
Zytek was engaged as the motor and inverter supplier for one of the leading Formula E teams with a single aim, to win, and win it has throughout seasons 2, 3 and 4 achieving:
- 16 race wins
- 4 out of 6 drivers and manufacturers championships.
We were tasked with designing, manufacturing, testing and delivering race systems in a little over six months, the task was aggressive but our amazing team delivered. The unit comprised of a new electric machine and power electronics updated from a previous project:
- Designed with efficiency.
- Lowest centre of gravity and packaging uppermost in our minds.
- Mass as always was important, but not at the expense of efficiency.
Success over seasons 2 to 4:
- Season 2 – a huge success, winning both driver and manufacturer championships, proving once again that the right investment at the right time, with the right suppliers will always produce results.
- Season 3 – a second customer team was secured and the race wins and championship successes kept on coming.
- Season 4 – similarly showed success with a competitive unit giving race wins throughout the season and securing a championship at the last event in New York.
DC CONVERTER SUCCESSES
Zytek was also engaged in season 5 to provide dedicated, designed for purpose lightweight and highly efficient DCDC converter units for use with another team.
The air-cooled units were then further updated to water-cooled units for season 7 and continued to run faultlessly.
These projects demonstrate what Zytek can offer to customers, the highest quality solutions engineered for success.
A Brief History of Formula E
Formula E is a race series for pure electric single seaters, racing on a range of usually street circuits around the world. It was conceived as a world leading technology series designed to promote the benefits of electrification through the medium of intense motorsport competition.
The series was conceived by the FIA in 2001, with the inaugural race being held in Beijing in September 2014.
In season 1, to attract as many competitors as possible, it was a spec series with only detailed setup changes possible by the teams themselves. From season 2 onwards, life became more interesting, as the teams were able to design, integrate and race their own in-house powertrains comprising motor, inverters, gearboxes and rear suspension arrangements.
This experience in Formula E has helped Zytek to become an engineering leader in electric vehicle development.
