Formula E: The all-electric future of motorsport?

Marketed as the "future of motorsport", Formula E is an all-electric race series that aims to act as a testing ground for new electric motor technologies, while also attempting to promote clean energy and sustainability.

With millions of viewers worldwide, it has grown swiftly in its first two seasons, but it is still some distance behind its predominantly petrol-driven counterpart, Formula One.

How different is Formula E from F1?

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Formula E defines itself as a class of racing with cars completely powered by electricity. There are parallels between it and Formula One, however. Cars look similar, with a single driver seated centrally in a slimline chassis and broad wings front and back. The competition is currently made up of nine teams with two drivers each, with 12 races around the world each season.

One unique aspect of the competition is that social media plays a role in each race. Fans vote for their favourite driver to give them a five-second speed boost that can be deployed at any point during the race.

One criticism of Formula E is that it lacks the speed and the intensity of F1. The cars are slower with a max velocity of 140mph, compared with around 225mph in F1. Decibel levels are also significantly lower, which some say detracts from the excitement of the live experience. Formula E cars hover at the 80-decibel mark, while their petrol-driven counterparts peak at around 130 decibels, Wired says.

Is Formula E popular?

Last weekend's Paris Formula E Grand Prix sold out its total allocation of 20,000 tickets. For a competition that is only in its second full year, this represents rapid growth, analysts say, but it is still a significant distance from Formula One, which averages attendances of around 100,000.

Is driving Formula E easier than F1?

Not according to current Formula E series leader Lucas di Grassi, who drove for the Virgin Racing team in the 2010 F1 season and finished third behind Lewis Hamilton in the Formula 3 championship in 2005. The Brazilian says that F1 world champions such as Hamilton and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel would struggle in the electric competition.

"They would have a hard time in Formula E," Di Grassi told CNN. "They are incredible drivers ... I raced with them since we were kids in go-karts. They are the most talented drivers of our generation and maybe, I would say, a lifetime. But if they came to Formula E, they would have to learn the tracks."

What does Formula One think of its new rival?

In an interview last week, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said he had turned down an approach about making his own competition completely electric. "It comes down to entertainment," he said, adding that his sponsors are not interested in trying to reach younger motorsports enthusiasts. The 85-year-old billionaire has previously said he doesn't need to cater to fans "who cannot afford a Rolex".

Does Formula E make any money?

It is not yet clear, but Visa, DHL, Qualcomm, Michelin, TAG Heuer and GH Mumm champagne have all signed up to sponsor the competition. According to Forbes, it may have been GH Mumm's decision to make the switch from F1 to Formula E that triggered Ecclestone's "if not fatal, at least ill-informed statement… claiming he had no interest in attracting younger fans".

For its part, GH Mumm's owner, Pernod Ricard, has said it is keen to align itself with a competition that "represents a vision for the future of the motor industry".

Will it achieve its environmental ambitions?

Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, says he believes Formula E will help drive the development of energy efficient electric technologies that could help reduce the world's reliance on fossil fuels.

"Formula E makes green energy sexy," he said last year. "If you go back ten or 20 years, people thought electric cars were something granny drove. Now they see wonderful hybrids, looking sleek, looking sexy, and that puts a spur on the revolution the world needs. It's going to be a very exciting revolution."

Writing for Cnet, technology journalist Andrew Hoyle agrees: "Inspiring the public to be excited about electric racing and electric cars in general is a critical task for Formula E. Without public interest, manufacturers have less incentive to develop and produce their own electric vehicles, as people simply won't buy them."

The next Formula E race will be held in Berlin on 21 May and the competition will come to the UK with a race in London on 2 July.