Season 11 of Formula E is already in full swing and a championship battle is forming. On technology side, we get an addition. In fact, Formula E has now confirmed that the long awaited Pit Boost will be introduced at the Jeddah E-Prix in Saudi Arabia. But is it just a feature or is it more?
Last season, Pit Boost – formerly known as Attack Charge – was used at the Mexico E-Prix but caused a lot of trouble. Since then, most difficulties with it have been solved. In pre-season testing for Season 11, it was used in a mock-race on the final test day. A few issues still emerged but overall it was a success. Therefore, Formula E decided to introduce it again.
Pit Boost explained: How the new Formula E innovation works
Pit Boost is a mid-race feature, which provides a 10% energy increase (3.85kWh) to the cars through a 30 second pitstop. The energy increase happens through a 600kW rapid energy boost during the stop. It’s mandatory to use during the race and is not affiliated to Attack Mode, which remains part of the race, with it’s known rules.
The Pit Boost will create more strategic opportunities during a Formula E race. This on the other hand creates more drama. For teams and drivers, it’s important to choose the optimal moment when going for a pitstop. When choosing a wrong moment, the risk of losing track postion which cannot be recovered is too high.
Furthermore, no more than two Pit Crew members may work on the car during the Pit Boost stop. One more Pit Crew member will be assigned to stop and release the car. Only one car at a time can carry out Pit Boost. A double-stack or simultaneous stops cannot be done.
The activation window will be determined by the FIA, depending on a certain “Status of Charge” value. It will be shared with the teams 21 days before each race. If there is a double-header, Pit Boost will only be used in one race.
EV history: 600kW charge is a game changer for the future
The highest an electric road car can charge is approximately 350kW. For instance, a Porsche Taycan can charge from 10% to 80% in 17 minutes, under optimal conditions. That means in 30 seconds, it would charge 2.23kWh. As mentioned above, the Formula E cars charge 3.85kWh during a Pit Boost stop, with nearly twice as much charging power.
Formula E remains in the lead regarding advancing in electric mobility, with Pit Boost highlighting the rapid progress in EV charging technology. It addresses the key challenges of EV technology: Charging speed and time. The position of the series as a “race-to-road” technology platform is being demonstrated here.
“It marks one of the most ambitious and impactful additions not just to our series, but modern day motorsport.” Formula E’s Co-Founder Alberto Longo said. ”The potential for dramatic overtakes, unexpected twists, and human ingenuity will elevate the excitement for our fans and showcase Formula E and the FIA’s relentless commitment to innovation.”
Marek Nawarecki, Senior Circuit Sport Director, FIA, said: “Part of the FIA technical and sporting regulations, this pioneering new feature will add another strategic element to the sport, and underscores the FIA’s steadfast commitment to developing evermore advanced race-to-road technologies – an approach that is perfectly exemplified by Formula E.”
Pit Boost with its 600kW charging power is a game changer for the future of not only motorsport but also for the road.
