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First laps of a fully electric single seater in France

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Khatir Soltani
Motor racing has always been the laboratory for and showcase of the most innovative technologies. Formulec intends to become the sporting development platform for car makers and energy industrialists who seek to increase the performance of electrical vehicles.


The fully electric Formulec EF01 was unveiled last week at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Designed and built in a two-and-a-half-year period with a number of quality partners pursuing pollution-free racing, the EF01 could be the starting point for a new electric series with over a dozen events on five continents.

With Segula Matra Technologies providing the technical coordination for the effort, the drivetrain was developed by the same people behind the Andros electric ice racer.

It makes use of a pair of Siemens 240 Kw motors mated to a two-speed Hewland gearbox that help it accelerate to 100 km/h in three seconds and reach the speed of 250 km/h, equalling the performance of a combustion engined Formula 3 car.

The power to race for 20 to 25 minutes is stored in lithium ion batteries made by Saft and are located low to the ground beneath the bodywork developed with assistance of the Brawn GP F1 team, now known as Mercedes GP. The car is prepared and maintained by ART GP.

GP2 series driver Jules Bianchi drove the car at Le Mans while Alexandre Premat took over the driving duties at Magny Cours.

The group are looking to get the series going for 2012, and then after establishing a rules package, open the series up to other manufactures in 2013.



Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
  • Over 6 years experience as a car reviewer
  • Over 50 test drives in the last year
  • Involved in discussions with virtually every auto manufacturer in Canada