Environmentally unfriendly as Formula E race runs out of juice
Issued on:
24/04/2021 - 19:44 Energy conservation: Mercedes Stoffel Vandoorne (right) and Nyck de Vries with team principal Ian James Tobias SCHWARZ AFP/File 2 min
Paris (AFP)
Electrically-powered Formula E racing fell flat on Saturday when 12 of 24 cars taking part in the Valencia Grand Prix ran out of energy and failed to finish.
On a wet track where collisions were frequent, the safety car was called upon five times.
However, the regulations provide that the level of energy available to the single-seaters is recalculated downwards during such pauses in racing.
Having underestimated the distance of the race (the regulations providing for 45 minutes plus one lap) and therefore the amount of energy needed to complete it, half of the field ground to a halt on the last lap.