Gen1 race car
At the beginning of the racing series, vehicles of the first generation (Gen1) were used. They had a maximum output of 200 kW, weighed 920 kilograms and generated around 15 percent of the energy required during a race onboard through recuperation. Vehicle changes were also necessary in the middle of the race because the energy capacity was not yet sufficient.
DS Automobiles started the Formula E adventure in the 2015/2016 season with a win, a total of four podium finishes and four best times in qualifying (pole positions). The racing car generations are always intended for four years, which means that the Gen1 racing cars were used up to and including the 2017/2018 season. During that time, drivers with DS Performance powertrains finished in the top three a total of 16 times – an average of around one podium position every two races.
Gen2 race car
In the fifth season, Formula E switched to the more powerful second generation (Gen2) racing cars. These offered 250 kW of power, were lighter (900 kilograms) and achieved 30 percent efficiency in energy recovery. More power and nearly twice the usable energy capacity effectively doubled the range, despite the battery being roughly the same size and weight as the previous model. Vehicle changes in the middle of the race, which had been carried out until then, were a thing of the past.
The DS Automobiles team won the teams’ title in the 2018/2019 season, with DS driver Jean-Eric Vergne becoming the drivers’ world champion – the first double title for a team in the history of Formula E. In the following season, the team defended the title in the constructors’ championship and António Felix Da Costa became driver’s world champion behind the wheel of the DS racing car. In seasons seven and eight, the DS Automobiles team took third place in the team classification. The marque closed the Gen2 car era with a record number of points and podiums.
Gen3 race car
The third generation of Formula E racing cars, which has been in use since January 2023, was presented in mid-2022. More power, a lighter chassis, a renewed battery and significantly increased recuperation performance ensure even more action. In the Gen3, the single-seat racing car has become 60 kilograms lighter. The energy recovery efficiency is now 40 percent. With a top speed of 280 km/h, the Gen3 racer is the fastest in Formula E history.
In December 2022, after two years of development, DS Performance presented its new Formula E vehicle called DS E-TENSE FE23 at the race track in Valencia, Spain. With the DS E-TENSE FE23, an electric motor with a maximum of 350 kW drives the rear axle. For the first time, braking energy is also recovered on the front axle, up to 250 kW. This increases the total energy gain in the recuperation phase to up to 600 kW. Due to the high braking power of the two electric motors at the front and rear, the Gen3 racing car has a hydraulic braking system on the rear axle, which is only used as a safety reserve in the event of any technical problems. In all other cases, the vehicle is braked solely by recuperation.
The newly formed team DS Penske has successfully started season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the DS E-TENSE FE23. Jean-Eric Vergne won the race in Hyderabad/India and finished second in the World Championship race in Cape Town/South Africa. The Frenchman, so far the only double champion in Formula E, is currently fourth in the drivers’ standings. His team-mate, reigning world champion Stoffel Vandoorne from Belgium, secured pole position in São Paulo, Brazil.
With the design and development of the powertrains of all Formula E racing cars from DS Automobiles since 2015, DS Performance has established itself as a technology leader. Thanks to the experience gained in Formula E, DS Automobiles has significantly accelerated the technology transfer to the E-Tense series vehicles. With this strategy, the young premium brand, which will only introduce 100 percent electric series models from 2024, offers its customers clear advantages.
Eugenio Franzetti, Director DS Performance: “The still very young history of Formula E stands for extraordinary acceleration towards the future. In less than ten years, racing cars have become lighter, more powerful, faster and more autonomous. For DS Automobiles and its racing department, participating in this 100 percent electric world championship is a strategic decision. From its inception, DS Performance’s mission has been clearly defined: to support the electrification of the DS Automobiles brand through motorsport that accelerates the adoption of new technologies. The experience we have gained in Formula E enables our electrified vehicles of today and our electric cars of tomorrow to benefit from the best technologies. Our commitment to Formula E is sustainable, because from 2024 all new vehicles from DS Automobiles will be 100 percent electric.”
Thomas Chevaucher, Stellantis Motorsport FE Program Director: “Thanks to the amazing team at DS Performance, the DS E-TENSE FE racing cars have shaped both the history of Formula E and the history of DS Automobiles. Since we got involved in this very competitive series, we’ve won at least one race every season and clinched a podium finish nearly every other race. Thanks to our titles, our victories and our podium positions, we are actively involved in the development of electrical technologies for the brand’s production vehicles, both in terms of hardware and software. Motorsport has always been a fantastic driver of innovation for the entire automotive industry. And it will certainly stay that way for a long time to come.”
