The popularity of motorsport is far from waning. Netflix’s hit series Drive to Survive has helped to amplify the reach of Formula One and its environmentally friendly electric car sibling, Formula E. With the introduction of new battery technologies, Formula E cars are looking to be faster than Formula One cars in no time. Furthermore, the data collected from these tracks is also expected to improve the performance and battery life of commercial electric vehicles (EVs).
Recently, at the E-TECH Europe conference in Bologna, WAE (formerly known as Williams Advanced Engineering – subsidiary of Williams Grand Prix Engineering and the Williams F1 team), displayed its latest ultra-high performance electric vehicle platform EVR. EVR boasts a 45 kWh battery with a peak power of 1650 kW, allowing for 0-100 km/h acceleration in under two seconds, and a top speed of over 400 km/h. For comparison, the Honda F1 team recorded a top speed of 397km/h when driving a modified F1 car on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Conversely, the current Formula E cars reach speeds of around 320 km/h, and in 2020, Croatia’s Rimac Nivera set a new record for the fastest electric hypercar with a top speed of 415 km/h.
Another addition to WAE’s exhibit was the Scalable Battery Module (SBM) system and the Triumph TE-1 e-motorbike prototype. With these systems, WAE can provide a turnkey solution with the entire vehicle plus exterior design support to businesses and startups. This means that new-comers, re-entrants or established organizations can cut development time significantly – WAE estimates it shortens the process by around 12 months.
WAE clients have achieved nine driver’s championships and eight constructor’s championships from 2013 onwards, clearly outshining at electric-powered races compared to their petrol-powered peers. This week, WAE has unveiled its Elysia brand, an entire branch spawned by its experiences with high performance electric cars. With Elysia, they aim to make battery intelligence more accessible, combining electrochemistry, modelling, AI and data science to
