Formula E powers up 600kW charging Pit Boost charging stops
Formula E has confirmed that its Pit Boost ultra-rapid charging concept will debut at the next round of the 2024/2025 FE season in Saudi Arabia over the weekend of February 14.
This latest addition to the all-electric championship means that the current Gen3 Evo cars will receive a 10% battery top up (the equivalent of 3.85kWh) during a 30-second mandatory charging pit stop via a 600kW plug-in charger. At present, the most powerful public EV chargers in Europe operate at up to 480kW.
Pit Boost was created to add a further element of excitement and strategy to races, as it will force teams and drivers to consider the benefits of an energy boost against track position. The championship hopes that Pit Boost’s 600kW charging tech will eventually cross over to production cars and charging networks.
“After an extensive testing and simulation process, we’re pleased to finally present this game-changing technology to the world,” said Formula E co-founder and chief championship officer, Alberto Longo. “It marks one of the most ambitious and impactful additions not just to our series, but modern day motorsport.
“Pit Boost will challenge teams and drivers alike to make high-stakes decisions under intense pressure. As a series born to enhance the technology transfer from the race track to the road, it marks a step change for consumer vehicles and the future potential of EV performance.”
Pit Boost will require each FE driver to make a mandatory second pit stop between a set number of laps during the season’s upcoming double header races. In addition to the Jeddah E-Prix event, back-to-back race weekends include Monaco, Tokyo, Shanghai, Berlin, and London.
Pit Boost was set to debut alongside the Gen 3 car for the 2022/2023 FE season. However, safety and implementation concerns meant that this latest innovation has taken until now for the FIA and the Formula E organisers to introduce it.
Marek Nawarecki, senior circuit sport director at the FIA, added: “Following a comprehensive testing programme, we are glad to once again be able to push the boundaries of electric mobility with the introduction of Pit Boost. It showcases the race-to-road messaging of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and will add another strategic element to the sport.”