Formula E: One Vision, One Electric Future

The inaugural FIA Formula E Championship is coming to a close this weekend in London – the place where the ambitious all-electric international race series was launched exactly one year ago. It’s been a remarkable journey – and it’s remarkable what electric vehicles are capable of. Formula E is leading the way.

The Formula E race car is a true innovation that offers a glimpse into the future of high-tech e-mobility. When the car was designed, Formula E’s objective was clear: Develop the world’s first fully-electric race car for a ground-breaking international championship series to accelerate interest in e-mobility, promote sustainability and excite the world. The result: the Spark-Renault SRT-01E, built by Spark Racing Technology. The all-important electric powertrain electronics are provided by McLaren Electronics Systems. 

“Our mission is to establish electric cars as a real option for people’s daily lives, one that will make our cities cleaner and more livable.” (Mr. Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E)

The zero-emission race car is stretching the boundaries of what is currently achievable in electric motorsport, while ensuring a balance between cost-effectiveness and sustainability, not to mention coping with the high demands of racing entirely on street circuits.

The five-speed paddle shift sequential gearbox is capable of taking the car from zero to 60 mph in less than three seconds and a maximum speed of 140 mph. The McClaren power unit pumps out 200kw of power, which is equivalent to 270 bhp.

The car is certainly a world first and an inspiration to those of us who are joining the drive an electric future.

DHL StreetScooter
DHL is looking out beyond the horizon as well and has designed its own, innovative e-delivery vehicle: the DHL StreetScooter. Though the future is never certain, our objective is also crystal clear: Carbon-free mail and parcel delivery – especially in the stop-and-go world of densely populated cities that is hard on any vehicle. Like Formula E, the vision is a sustainable e-mobility.

“As operators of one of the largest vehicle fleets in Germany, we have a special interest in deploying vehicles that emit no emissions, are economically efficient and can handle the daily stresses of strains of delivery work.” (Juergen Gerdes, Head of Post – eCommerce – Parcel at Deutsche Post DHL)

That vision became a reality in the summer of 2013, when the DHL StreetScooter was deemed roadworthy after rigorous testing. The first vehicle became part of a pilot project in DHL’s home city of Bonn, Germany, in August that year – a test designed to make the company’s headquarters a model city for carbon-free delivery vehicles. Today over 80 zero-emission delivery cars, vans and trucks travel the streets of Germany’s former capital as one of the world’s largest fleets of electrically powered commercial vehicles. The fleet will increase to some 140 vehicles by 2016, which will reduce emissions by over 500 tons per year.

Right now DHL has more than 10,500 green vehicles on the streets around the world. 

It really is environmentally friendly innovation at its best. Watch this video and see the DHL StreetScooter and action. 

With projects like these it should come as no surprise that DHL became the Official Logistics Partner of the FIA Formula E Championship. And we plan to continue the journey with Formula E in the coming season.