Sustainable credentials aren’t always the first thing that comes to mind when motor racing is mentioned. More likely, it’s the speed of the vehicles as they whip around a racetrack, or the sound these supercars make. Those connected to fashion might think of the sport’s look, the racing overalls that have of late had a resurgence in style. These uniforms, punctuated with corporate logos and branded support, marry function with form. Constructed from multiple layers of fire-retardant material, the outfits have long sleeves and legs – they are the moto jacket for the bold dresser or an item of necessity for drivers, crew or safety marshals.
But Formula E, the electric racing championship billed as “the first sport in the world to be Net Zero Carbon since inception”, is as much about style as it is about substance. Making change for the future a top priority since its conception in 2011, Formula E features unique electric cars. Unlike other races, the championship competes on city tracks. (The 10th season will be held in Tokyo in March 2024 and has been working with city authorities to highlight the Zero Emission Vehicle initiative, part of Tokyo’s climate action plan to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.)
The charismatic German driver André Lotterer competes in the Formula E championship and is proud to do so. “We’ve quickly opened our eyes to realise that we have the opportunity to contribute to the world,” he says. “As athletes, we were not able to do that before now.” Lotterer drove four seasons with the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team and now lines up for Avalanche Andretti, the American team running German Porsche powertrains. Formula E is, he says, “pushing the boundaries to become more efficient, more sustainable, and aims to inspire people to drive electric, as we represent the races of the future.”
The cars themselves are powered by electric motors, which are billed as more efficient than internal-combustion engines (ICEs). The GEN3 car currently driven at Formula E is said to convert more than 95 per cent of its electrical energy, compared to approx 40 per cent in the high-efficiency ICEs of other motorsports. It is the first formula car to use linen and recycled carbon fibre in bodywork construction. All waste carbon fibre is reused and natural rubber, and recycled fibres make up 26 per cent of new tyres, which are also fully recycled after racing.
However, some controversies still exist around claims of sustainability. Electric vehicle battery production can adversely impact the environment, with results including a loss of biodiversity, air pollution and decreased freshwater supply. The batteries for electric vehicles are made up of materials which are energy-intensive to mine: nickel, lithium, cobalt. It’s been reported1 that these minerals are also often mined in regions with a poor environmental record. Argentina, for example, currently accounts for 21 per cent of the world’s lithium reserves. There are concerns the mining could cause massive destruction, corrupt an already fragile ecosystem and pillage the country’s natural resources.
While Formula E does recycle its tyres, EV tyres are known to wear out faster, due to the vehicles’ heavier weight and increased torque. Increased emissions are therefore expected due to their shipping and processing. Recycling methods are still in their early stages: these batteries are not specifically designed to be recycled. Clearly, electric vehicles can certainly have an improved environmental impact as opposed to internal combustion engine vehicles. However, battery-life and certain manufacturing processes still do result in negative effects on the environment. Formula E is committed to evolving, to ensure each generation of car is as eco-friendly as possible.
Other critiques of Formula E are based on the entertainment factor. Some fans don’t enjoy engines that don’t have a roar, I’m told. Or, “Formula E cars are not as fast as others.” In an arena that capitalises on the need for speed and those adrenaline-brimming sounds, these objections might be problematic. However, Formula E brings a totally different style of gameplay. One dramatic-sounding twist is that the cars race very close together. “The issue with the design of Formula 1 cars is that they need strong aerodynamics to withstand the speed, but downforce produces a lot of drag (dirty air), meaning the car behind cannot get too close or they’ll actually lose speed,” explains motorsports photographer Vincent Mignott. “This means overtaking in Formula 1 is hard. Formula E is a lot more exciting, as the cars race extremely close to one another.” Furthermore, their drivers, like Lotterer, have to use a very different style: “It’s racing and playing chess at the same time.”
In Formula E, you have to manage the car’s battery life in order to finish the race with a minimum percentage, otherwise you’ll get disqualified. This is equivalent to Formula 1 cars having to finish the race with a certain amount of fuel in the tank. “Technically, you regulate everything through software,” Lotterer says. “It’s all about how you manage energy throughout the race, and also how strategically you pace yourself against the others. The way the race format is, you need to manage the consumption. You cannot race flat-out until the breaking point. You need to be more efficient. And that makes the race quite interesting. It’s very strategic.”
The Formula E championship is currently contested by 11 teams with two drivers each. It can also be positioned as the most competitive grid in motorsport, where any driver has the chance of climbing to the top step of the podium. “People should understand it’s the most equal championship there is,” Lotterer says. “We all have the same car. We all have the same chassis, the same tyres, the same brakes – everything exactly the same, except the electric motor. And what’s around the engine in the back, the suspension on the gearbox, and the software, but it’s a very small part of the performance. So even if someone has a better or worse battery, they are regulated by software that deploys exactly the same power to everyone.
“If you look at Formula 1, it’s always the same guy winning – you can bet almost all your money that it’s going to be him. Here, it’s really mixed up throughout the whole field. It has a lot more equality than Formula 1, more chances for all the drivers to win. So that gives a fair aspect. And the races are very spectacular. And very dramatic: you don’t know who’s going to win until the last lap. You can keep people in suspense for 45 minutes, compared to a Formula 1 race, one and a half hours.”
Formula E’s approach is thoughtful; constantly innovating to bring a greener way of racing, as well as challenging drivers and their teams to consider and critique their own efficiency. It’s clearly just as stylish as motorsports have always been, pushing forward its exciting sustainable agenda in a whole new fashion.
1. Electric Vehicles and their Impact
on the Environment (November 2022),
Bio-Friendly Planet. biofriendlyplanet.com/electric-vehicles-and-their-impact-on-the-environment/
Model: Greta Hofer. Casting Director: Simone Schofer. Set design: Sati Leonne Faulks. Producer on set: Beata Duvaker. Styling assistant: Juliette Dumazy