Breaking news
Formula E
Audi reveals 2021 Formula E car with first in-house powertrain
Audi has unveiled its e-tron FE07 car for the 2020-21 Formula E season, which features an all-new powertrain that was developed by the manufacturer in-house for the first time.
Matt Kew
Edited: Nov 26, 2020, 1:19 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
For the first three seasons of FE, Audi provided technical support to the ABT Schaeffler entry.
After Lucas di Grassi won the 2016-17 drivers’ title, Audi took over full control of the outfit for the 2017-18 season and won the teams’ championship at the first time of asking. But for the subsequent two seasons it fell back to second and then sixth in the standings, with powertrain customer team Envision Virgin Racing slipping from third to fourth.
For the most recent three seasons, the Audi team has worked to optimise the current motor generator unit initially developed by ABT and Schaeffler but has now switched to its own set-up.
7
The ground-up project has been two years in the making and is described as one of the motorsport arm’s “most challenging and intensive projects ever”.
Tristan Summerscale, FE project leader at Audi Sport, said: “We are leaving no stone unturned to reduce the energy loss within the system to an absolute minimum.
“We have achieved an overall efficiency of more than 95% for our powertrain.
“The new MGU inverter unit has an efficiency of even more than 97% in all relevant driving conditions.”
“If you compare our MGU with an internal combustion engine delivering a comparable power output of 250 kW, our efficiency is not only twice as high, but our weight of less than 35 kilograms is also much lighter.”
Read Also:
- DS Techeetah to start 2020/21 Formula E season with old package
- Mahindra retains Lynn for 2020/21 Formula E season
FE has introduced a raft of cost-saving measures in the wake of the global health crisis, which in turn impact the powertrain homologation cycles.
This means Audi will continue with its all-new and lighter MGU05 set-up – a one-speed drivetrain with internal rotor, external magnets - for the next two full seasons.
When asked what role Schaeffler will continue to play in the team, team principal Allan McNish said: “Schaeffler still continues to be a partner of ours, but just in terms of [the MGU], we did a lot of this work in-house with the LMP1 [FIA World Endurance Championship] project.
“At the same time, when we came into Formula E, it was in-line with Abt.
“Abt and Schaeffler were already in a working relationship, so it was obvious to continue with that. “However, the time we felt was right now to build for the future with that.
“But Schaeffler will continue to be a partner with what we do in the future.”
Three-time DTM champion Rene Rast has been signed to the Audi team full-time to partner FE ever-present Lucas di Grassi for the 2020-21 season.
Rast was called up for the six-race Berlin finale to replace Daniel Abt and achieved a best result of third in first race of a double-header on an extended Tempelhof Airport circuit layout.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article DS Techeetah to start 2020/21 Formula E season with old package
Next article Mahindra would be "disappointed" to finish outside top three
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Kew
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 6, 2024
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 6, 2024
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 6, 2024
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
More from
Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler
Rast "proven wrong" by "unexpected" win in DTM comeback year
DTM
DTM
Imola
Jun 18, 2022
Rast "proven wrong" by "unexpected" win in DTM comeback year
Imola DTM: Audi's Rast claims first pole since return
DTM
DTM
Imola
Jun 18, 2022
Imola DTM: Audi's Rast claims first pole since return
Rast explains “upside-down” set-up change behind DTM podium return
DTM
DTM
Lausitzring
May 23, 2022
Rast explains “upside-down” set-up change behind DTM podium return
Latest news
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 11 min
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 35 min
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
1 h
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe