The International Automobile Federation (FIA) set out on a mission to reinvent racing when it conceived the all-electric Formula E series. The first race took place in 2014 in Beijing.
After four years of service, the series, now known as ABB FIA Formula E Championship, is selling the cars on the used-car market. So, if you would like an electrically powered vehicle but can’t wait for a Tesla to arrive, here’s your chance.
The series is entering a new season in December this year. And it has already presented the new model that the teams will use. The 22 second-generation cars will line up at Al-Diriyah in Saudi Arabia.
With the new models set to line up at the grid, what happens with the old models? Well, this is where you may get the chance to experience the sport first-hand.
The Vehicles
According to a Bloomberg report, the 40 all-electric race cars are in the secondary market. The report shows the price of the cars, some of which have run the full four seasons of the series, will range from $200,000 to $289,000. The price might depend on potentially personal attachments, or you might rate the car that won the most races that much higher and pay that much more.
But, the thing is, there is no official sale of the cars, rather a word of mouth advertisement.
Initially, Formula E purchased the cars for $460,000 each, which amounts to some 18.4 million. The cars are virtually identical and the second generation was developed as the battery tech used in these cars moved ahead. So far, to complete the full race, drivers used two cars, swapping them as the batteries run out. With the advancement in battery tech, the cars can now do the full race in one go without recharging.
The new batteries provided by Mclaren Applied Technologies are capable of completing the full 45-minute race. This means the format of the series will change from 40 laps completed in two cars to a 45-minute timed race.
Spark Racing Technology CEO and technical director Theophile Gouzin said that manufacturers are using racing sports to make advancements in technology. The ultimate aim is to catch up to Tesla, who only produces electric vehicles and sets the benchmark in the industry.
The Pedigree
The first race, that took place in Beijing in 2014, was won by Lucas di Grassi driving for the Audi Sport ABT team. Di Grassi went on to win the championship in its third season.
Nelson Piquet Jr. was the first driver to win the championship in an NIO Formula E Team’s car. The e.dams Renault team won the team championship.
With this in mind, some manufacturers are joining the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Next year we will see the likes of Nissan, Porsche as well as Mercedes-linked HWA. Mercedes plans to join the sport under its name in the 2019-2020 season.
Teams that have already secured wins in the sport are Audi, Renault, and Panasonic Jaguar Racing. Jean-Eric Vergne, who drove for the Techeetah team, owned by SECA-China Media Capital, won the driver’s championship.
Further Reading
- Tips for Narrowing Down Your Choices Among Auction Cars for Sale
- Insurance Salvage Cars for Sale Could Be a Good Solution for You
- Everything You Need to Know About Insurance for Salvage Cars
- Are Salvage Cars for Sale a Waste of Money?
Following four years of service, the 40 cars used in the series were returned, Alejandro Agag, founder, and chief executive officer of Formula E said in a conversation with Bloomberg.
He noted that, although the cars were returned, they are still fully functional and there could be a significant collectors market. It is not unlikely that the cars can be used for racing as well.
The Sale
So, if you have ever dreamed of owning a racing car, here is your chance. Considering how vintage petrol-powered race cars are going for huge bucks, having a piece of potentially the future big thing in racing is enticing. Bloomberg rates the petrol-powered Formula 1 cars are fetching around $20 million.
However, keep in mind that some of the cars might not be available. This is because Formula E paid the full price for the cars. Teams racing in the series then leased the cars and have now returned them. However, some of the teams are considering keeping the cars.
So if you’d like to whizz around in a single seat vehicle that sounds like that tool your dentist used the last time you visited, and have the cash for it, here’s your chance. Whether an official sale will take place remains undisclosed. But you can always contact the London-headquartered Formula E and ask about their inventory. You will certainly not be the first person making that call.
So there are a few gems that will certainly receive the most attention from collectors.
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