Formula E’s visit to Hong Kong marks the 50th event of the all-electric racing series and thus a motorsport milestone for Schaeffler as well because the German automotive and industrial supplier has been involved in Formula E ever since its inaugural race in fall of 2014. “This was and still is an intensive period of time for us in Formula E and we can be proud of all the things we’ve achieved during this time. And by that I not only mean the eleven victories and two titles for our Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team but everything that Formula E has achieved as a whole,” says Prof. Peter Gutzmer, Deputy CEO and Chief Technology Officer of Schaeffler AG. Matthias Zink, CEO Automotive OEM at Schaeffler, adds: “The ring to the term electric mobility in the motorsport as well as in the automotive world has changed since 2014. In this unique learning field for mobility for tomorrow, we have been very successfully documenting our expertise as a global pioneer in electric mobility to date.”

In the 2016/2017 season, Lucas di Grassi had won the drivers’ title in Formula E and in 2017/2018, together with his teammate, Daniel Abt, clinched the teams’ title. In the current 2018/2019 season, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler has scored one race victory to date. Lucas di Grassi most recently won round four of the current Formula E Championship in Mexico City. In Hong Kong, Formula E is now racing for the third time. The circuit in front of the skyscraper skyline in the Asian metropolis runs directly through the harbor-front district.

This is Formula E

Formula E is an FIA-sanctioned motor racing series for fully electric cars. In 2018/2019, Formula E season five, eleven teams and 22 drivers are on the grid. Formula E races worldwide on temporary circuits in the hearts of metropolises such as Hong Kong, Berlin and New York City. From December 15, 2018 until July 14, 2019, the ABB FIA Formula E Championship is holding 13 rounds at twelve venues. Each race lasts 45 minutes, plus one lap.

Schaeffler in Formula E

Schaeffler is one of the co-founders and one of the most notable and successful players in Formula E, which was established in 2014. Schaeffler has been contributing its know-how to the development of the powertrain of Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s race cars since 2015. In doing so, the company demonstrates its expertise in forward-thinking technologies and presents ideas for sustainable mobility for tomorrow in the innovative electric racing series as well.

The new Formula E technology

In season five, Formula E is entering its second era. The most conspicuous innovation for 2018/2019 going forward: Every driver has only one race car anymore. The reason is that the second-generation cars mark the end of the mid-race car swaps previously required at each Formula E event because the battery capacity is now sufficient for the entire race distance. New as well starting this season is the cars’ futuristic design without a rear wing, plus the Halo protection system above the cockpit.

The new Audi e-tron FE05 was meticulously developed by Audi Sport and Schaeffler with the new technical and strategic challenges in mind. The motor-generator unit named Audi Schaeffler MGU03, the centerpiece of the Audi e-tron FE05, was jointly developed by the two technology partners. 95 percent of all powertrain components are new, having resulted in weight savings of ten percent. Two Audi e-tron FE05 cars are fielded by the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler factory team for Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt.