Formula E reveals radical new electric racer

The all-electric Formula E racing series has revealed its new single-seater competition car for the 2018/2019 season. It will be used by every team in the championship.

When the series enters its fifth season at the end of this year, the futuristic-looking racer will replace the first-generation car which has been in circulation since the championship began in 2014.

Instead of replicating the original car’s traditional single-seater silhouette, the new racer incorporates elements from Le Mans endurance prototypes, says Motorsport. New body panels cover the wheels and the car has a large diffuser at the back which generates aerodynamic grip at high speeds.

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One of the most striking additions to the second-generation car is the halo safety feature above the cockpit. It's designed to protect the driver’s head from flying debris and is mandatory for all teams, the website says.

According to The Verge, Formula E organisers may use LED strips on the halo, although it’s not yet known how this would work during a race.

Along with the revamped design, Top Gear says the new Formula E car has “double the energy storage capacity and twice the range” of its predecessor.

This means drivers will no longer have to swap cars mid-race, the website says, as the new racer now has enough battery power to last an entire race distance.

The new Formula E car will make its public debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show, which runs from 8 to 18 March.