ABB to supply mobile electric car fast-charging tech to Formula E

Swiss-Swedish technology giant ABB announced last week that it will provide the mobile ultra-fast charging technology for the Gen3 cars in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship – the world’s first all-electric global race series.

ABB will provide the charging technology for the Gen3 cars which are set to begin racing as of Season 9 in season 2022-23. According to reports in June, Gen3 vehicles racing in the Championship will boast a regenerative capability of 600kW made up of 350kW on the rear axle and 250kW on the front via a motor–generator unit (MGU).

In addition to the combined-600kW regenerative capability, Gen3 racing will also see the introduction of fast charging, with approximately 30-second charging pit-stops to an approximate 600-800kW in power.

“Fast charging at these rates is very technically challenging for the battery supplier and very costly and there will be a lot of new infrastructure required,” said The Race’s technical consultant and former Formula E technical director, Peter McCool, speaking in June.

ABB’s involvement in DC fast charging infrastructure has been built over years, and the company now has more than 14,000 DC fast chargers installed across over 80 countries around the globe.

“The ABB FIA Formula E Championship is more than a race – it is our test-bed for innovative electromobility technologies, driving development to the production line of electric vehicles and ultimately contributing to a cleaner environment for all,” said Tarak Mehta, ABB’s electrification president.

“We are very proud to be associated with Formula E and the FIA’s decision to elevate the race series to World Championship status in Season 7 enhances Formula E’s growing impact.”

Not much was said about the specifics of the Gen3 fast charging infrastructure ABB will supply, except that the company’s Electrification teams are working with “engineers from motorsport governing body the FIA and Formula E … on the specifications and requirements to develop an innovative and safe solution for charging the Gen3 cars through portable charging units that can charge two cars simultaneously.”

“Since ABB joined as the FIA Formula E Championship’s title partner in Season 4, they have worked closely with us to develop the series as a proving ground for race-to-road technology development that promotes our founding purpose of accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles to counteract climate change,” said Alejandro Agag, Formula E’s founder and chair.

“We are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together through our long-term partnership.”