Porsche has revealed that powertrain development for the German manufacturer’s first Formula E car has entered the final phase. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) will perform the homologation this summer. Following that, no further changes can be made to the drive components for Season 6.
Malte Huneke, technical project leader, Porsche Motorsport, said, “Since building the Porsche Formula E car in January, we have made major progress in both development and testing. We can continue to optimize its components up until the homologation to ensure that we are perfectly prepared for our maiden Formula E season.
“The simulation work is particularly helpful in, say, optimizing energy management. However, the actual conditions only prevail at a racetrack. For example, it is not possible to simulate driving over curbs completely accurately in the simulator or on the test bench. Tire management and braking behavior are also best researched at the racetrack.
“We are right on schedule: with extensive test drives at the racetracks, continuous work in the simulator and tests on the test bench. We gain important data and insights for the development of the Porsche powertrain with the combination of all these available sources.”
The development of the powertrain is central to Porsche’s works entry. While Formula E provides the vehicle chassis and the standard battery, all drive components are the manufacturers’ individual concepts. This includes electric engine, inverter, brake-by-wire system, transmission, differential, driveshafts and the suspension components attached to the rear-axle, as well as the cooling system and control unit.
