As a dedicated fan of motorsport, Alberto Longo lives for the high-speed thrills of electric racing. Yet he is in no doubt that Formula E exists to serve a higher purpose: “Cars with combustion engines produce around 4% of global carbon emissions. But 10 years ago, electric vehicles (EVs) were not selling well because they were too expensive. And drivers were concerned about the cars’ short battery life, which limited their range.” As a result, he said: “We created Formula E as the perfect platform to overcome these barriers by raising awareness of e-mobility.”
Racing with a reason
Alberto explains that one of Formula E’s founding principles was to demonstrate how electric transport could improve the quality of city life. Today, nearly 10 years after the first Formula E race in Beijing, the championship has delivered a range of environmental, economic and social benefits in cities around the world. Perhaps the sport’s most significant achievement has been accelerating the adoption of EVs worldwide; the number of electric cars on our streets has risen six-fold since 2014. And as a global showcase for EV technology, Formula E’s innovations have trickled down to road cars, boosting their reliability and performance.
But how has a relatively young sport made such a significant impact? Answer: staging exciting, high-profile races in the heart of the world’s most vibrant cities.
City selection
Alberto explains that organising the racing calendar is complex: “Firstly, once we have a host city in mind, we need political support.” What does this mean in practice? The city’s mayor must write a letter confirming that the city wants – and is able to – host the race. Alberto explains the reason for such formality: “Staging a Formula E race involves much work for us and the host city. We need to know that the authorities have the will to go ahead before we commit.”
Once the formalities are complete, the mayor and his advisors propose a specific location within the city. At this point, Formula E puts boots on the ground. Alberto explains: “As soon as we confirm a potential location, we launch a feasibility study with the FIA and city authorities. Then we send technical experts to the city to determine whether the location meets all the practical requirements of hosting a race.” Then there are the more mundane matters: “Good weather brings out the fans, so we must consider what time of year to hold the race. All the planning in the world could be wasted if the drivers are skidding off the track in a storm.”
Lastly, Alberto and his team think hard about whether the new city complements the season’s other races: “Formula E is a global championship, which means the races should be held in interesting, diverse locations. This helps boost the profile and draws new fans to the sport.”
When asked to name his favourite race, Alberto suggests that the Championships’ various cities have a unique appeal. In Europe, for example, there has been much focus on the car’s technology and sustainability credentials, as Longo explains: “Monaco was very special last year because it was where we launched the Gen3 Formula E car”. Meanwhile, races in Asia can attract huge crowds, reflecting consumers’ growing acceptance of EVs in the Asian market: “Jakarta was massive – we had 60,000 live spectators and 13.5 million watching live on TV”. And Longo says motorsport’s popularity in South America means that racing there is always a treat.
A weekend of racing, a lifetime of change
Alberto explains that Formula E was founded to create lasting change: “From day one, we were determined to leave a positive legacy for every host city.”
In the short term, this means that every aspect of the Championship is sustainable, from the food served at races to the low-carbon logistics used to shift equipment from city to city. Indeed, Formula E is the only motorsport in the world whose events have been certified as fully sustainable. Alberto also stresses that the Championship supports good causes in every host city: “Formula E’s impact is wide and varied. Last year alone, we gave $1.5m to local charities. In Mexico, we created a mural for the community that uses a special carbon-absorbing paint. And we plant trees to help improve the green spaces in our host cities.”
Over the longer term, many of the world’s cities are already beginning to enjoy the benefits of greater EV adoption as race fans replace their old diesel and petrol cars with electric alternatives. And as Formula E continues to boost the profile of electric transport, cities will soon introduce self-driving electric buses and trucks. Ultimately, e-mobility will transform our cities and improve people’s lives, providing a cheaper, cleaner alternative to old, polluting diesel fleets.
Accelerating into the future
When asked what’s next for Formula E, Alberto is clear: “This year will be even more exciting because we are using the new Gen 3 car. We also have new rules and four amazing new cities in India, Brazil, South Africa and the US. The only location missing from the calendar is China, which still had Covid-19 restrictions in place so we couldn’t include it, though hopefully, it will be back next year.” Beyond that, his long-term goals are as ambitious as ever: “Formula E probably has the best lineup of drivers in motorsport, so I hope that in 10 years, it will be the pinnacle of all motorsport.”