Formula E’s much-anticipated debut of its new “Attack Charge” mid-race charging system, scheduled for this weekend’s race in Misano, Italy, has been delayed once again, with no new date set for its implementation.
The series has been planning to introduce a mid-race charging stop for several years as a way to showcase fast-charging technology. Initially, in the first Formula E season, drivers would swap from one car to another with a fully charged battery. However, this system was replaced with the Gen2 cars in 2018 and the Gen3 car, introduced last season, promised mid-race fast-charging capability.
Despite the promise, mid-race charging has faced setbacks, primarily due to challenges in building the equipment required for high charging speeds. The introduction of Attack Charge was first delayed to the beginning of the current season, then to mid-season in Misano, Italy. However, issues emerged during pre-season and mid-season testing, leading to another indefinite delay.
While the current “attack mode” system, which provides drivers with a temporary power boost, will continue in the meantime, Attack Charge was intended to replace it with a required pit stop to unlock additional power. The pit stop would add around 4kWh, or approximately 10% of pack capacity, in just 30 seconds.
Formula E sees potential applications for this technology beyond racing, as the 600kW charging speed exceeds that of current consumer vehicles. If testing of this system can improve charge speeds, reliability, or make it easier to install fast charging systems quickly, it could benefit EV drivers worldwide.
However, Formula E is prioritizing reliability before implementation, recognizing the challenging racing conditions where failures can lead to unfair competition. The series aims to ensure that the system is fully tested and ready for use in racing before setting a new debut date.
