Audi is the first German automobile manufacturer to race in Formula E. The brand with the four rings is taking ABT Sportsline’s slot on the FE grid in the 2017/2018 season. The Allgäu-based team has been successfully present in Formula E ever since the inception of the electric racing series and in the future will be taking care of the e-tron race cars as the fielding team. Competing for ABT will be youngster Daniel Abt (Germany) and title defender Lucas di Grassi (Brazil).

Audi has been giving its name to the team since Formula E’s inaugural season in 2014 and in the Brazilian Lucas di Grassi previously providing one of its factory drivers. In addition, the Allgäu-based team used the infrastructure of the Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg. For the 2016/2017 season, Audi intensified the partnership in the form of financial and technical support. Now, on taking over ABT Sportsline’s entry slot, the final step has been made toward a full-fledged factory-backed commitment – under the team name of Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler.

The fourth Formula E season kicked off in Hong Kong on December 2 and will subsequently take the campaign to South and North America, Africa as well as to the European metropolises of Berlin, Paris, Rome and Zurich. “Formula E delivers spectacular motorsport in the hearts of fascinating cities and is a tremendous stage to present electric mobility and motorsport in their most emotive forms,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass.

“We’re proud that as one of the founding members we’ve added a chapter to motorsport’s history books,” says Hans-Jürgen Abt. “Within the space of just a few years, Formula E has seen such a strong development that a team can no longer be competitive without the backing of an automobile manufacturer. That’s why we’re gladly handing over the reins to Audi – a partner we’ve been successfully cooperating with in motorsport and routine business for many decades. There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re going to continue this success story in Formula E as well.”

How can the race car be made even better in which Lucas di Grassi has won the championship and that has earned the team seven trophies for podium finishes in eleven races? With experience, the concentrated know-how of Audi and partner Schaeffler, plus a lot of attention to detail.                   

The Audi e-tron FE04 for the fourth season is a true single-seater race car and the new generation of Lucas di Grassi’s championship-winning car. While in the first Formula E season in 2014/2015 completely identical electric race cars were used, the teams and manufacturers, since the 2015/2016 season, have been allowed to develop the entire powertrain themselves, consisting of the motor, transmission and parts of the suspension as well as the respective software.

The combination of the motor and transmission, which Audi and technology partner Schaeffler have jointly developed, is the car’s centerpiece. The engineers primarily focused on designing the motor-generator unit (MGU) for even greater efficiency. As a result, acceleration out of corners in particular is enhanced.

The maximum output of the motor in qualifying is limited to 200 kW (272 hp) and in the race to 180 kW (245 hp). Via the so-called “FanBoost,” power of up to 200 kW (272 hp) can be made available to the drivers for a short period of time.

Similar as in the DTM, technical changes following the homologation of the race cars, which is performed once a year is no longer permitted. During the season, the engineers and drivers primarily endeavor to extract the optimum from the existing package and to perfectly adapt the car to the respective city street circuit. The software which in Formula E makes all the difference particularly in terms of energy management offers the greatest scope in this respect.

Power to the Audi e-tron FE04 is supplied by a battery weighing 200 kilograms that Williams Advanced Engineering has developed and that is identical for all cars. The lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 34 kWh of which 28 kWh may be used. It sits between the driver’s seat and the powertrain.

Unique to Formula E are the profiled all-weather specification tyres from Audi’s long-term partner Michelin which have a close reference to the production versions. 

To transmit the power to the wheels, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in the new season is using a high-efficiency transmission with one instead of the previous three gears. A central display provides all the key information on the condition of the MGU, the system temperatures, which are particularly important with an electrically operated race car, and the current charge state of the battery.

Like in Formula 1, the driver sits in a carbon fibre monocoque complying with the latest FIA safety standards. Two roll bars and CFRP crash structures at the front, rear and sides provide maximum safety. The minimum weight of a Formula E race car is 880 kilograms (including the driver). The electric race car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. Top speed on the city street circuits is about 225 km/h.