German auto giant Porsche has unveiled its Porsche 99X Electric ABB FIA Formula E car for its maiden season in the 2019/2020 Formula E season.
The Porsche 99X Electric was revealed by Porsche’s 2019/20 Formula E regular drivers Neel Jani and André Lotterer at the end of an interactive launch event hosted on the livestream gaming video platform Twitch that took place over four hours at the Porsche Digital GmbH headquarters in Ludwigsburg.
“It was a unique car presentation unlike anything the motorsport world has ever experienced before,” explained Jani.
“It was great fun joining the gamers’ search for the Porsche 99X Electric both virtually and in real life at the same time. It is great that Porsche is breaking new ground and involving the young, digital generation.”
“A different kind of car premiere; I really enjoyed the fact that Neel and I acted as live players,” added Lotterer. “It is fantastic that we are communicating with the digital target audience as equals and that they were able to be part of it.”
Porsche will team with Swiss luxury watch manufacturer TAG Heuer under the banner of TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team in its first season in the 2019/2020 ABB FIA Formula E Championship with a total of 12 partners.
The team will race in the livery of Porsche’s traditional motorsport colours (red, black, and red) and will be joined by Pascal Zurlinden, Porsche’s Director GT Factory Motorsport.
“I’m looking forward to also being part of the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team from now on and supporting my colleagues with my experience,” said Zurlinden.
“The Formula E concept is very interesting and is different from traditional motorsport series, a new and exciting task that I am really looking forward to. Of course, it is also great to see so many familiar faces from my time in LMP1 and to be working with the team again.”
“Today is an important day. With the premiere of the Porsche 99X Electric, we are taking a big step towards the Porsche works entry in Formula E,” said Fritz Enzinger, Vice President Porsche Motorsport and Group Motorsport Volkswagen AG.
“I am really proud of our team, which has shown a high level of commitment to the Formula E project. Now I am looking forward to seeing the Porsche 99X Electric on the racetrack.”
“Today sees the Porsche 99X Electric join the list of historic Porsche motorsport cars,” added Pascal Zurlinden. “The naming and the design give the car its initial character and bring it to life. It is a special day for everyone who has put a lot of work into the Porsche Formula E project in recent months.”
The development of the Porsche powertrain has played a central role in developing a car capable and acceptable for racing in the ABB FIA Formula E season. Regulations stipulate a standardised chassis and a standard battery, allowing the drive technologies to be developed by the manufacturers, resulting in the Porsche E-Performance Powertrain.
“In hindsight, we laid the foundations for Porsche’s future involvement in Formula E during the LMP1 project,” said Malte Huneke, Technical Project Leader Formula E.
“We used the insights gained during that time in the development of the Porsche Formula E powertrain. We focussed on building a highly effective powertrain with the highest level of efficiency.”
The Formula E Porsche 99X Electric uses 800-volt technology which is also used in the fully electric Porsche sports car, the Taycan, which has been making appearances throughout the last few months as Porsche touts its new car with the support of former Australian professional racing driver Mark Webber.
The car also utilises a permanent synchronous motor to optimise the drive concept and to provide high performance energy management and efficiency.
In the coming weeks, we will focus on the performance of the Porsche 99X Electric. This is the next step on the road to the Porsche works entry in Formula E,” said Amiel Lindesay, who is from now on Head of Operations Formula E.
“Both Porsche 99X Electric will take to the racetrack there for the first time, with Neel Jani and André Lotterer in the cockpit. From an operational perspective, it will be an exciting assignment for everyone involved. A good test before we contest our first Formula E race in November.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.