ABB Formula E back in the Big Apple

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to New York for the fifth time on July 16 and 17.

Kiwi driver Mitch Evans is hoping to continue his charge up the ladder with the Jaguar TCS Racing team, among 22 competing drivers at the 2.32km Red Hook Circuit around the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

“It’s great to be returning to New York City, to once again showcase the future of sustainable transport and just what EVs are capable of, in ABB’s largest market,” says ABB chief communications and sustainability officer Theodor Swedjemark.

“It’s a market in which we have invested more than US$14 billion since 2010 in plant expansions, greenfield development, and acquisitions, to accelerate the adoption of e-mobility and electrification ­– ultimately helping drive progress towards a more sustainable future.”

As the US begins to implement the largest EV charging investment with the installation of half a million EV chargers across the country, ABB will play a critical role in meeting that goal.

Currently, ABB powers more than 1000 charging locations in the US and it’s adding 125 jobs across its e-mobility operations there this year.

In Sugarland, Texas, ABB is opening a training centre to provide authorised service partners with hands-on training for servicing and maintaining EV chargers.

Meanwhile, in Southern California, ABB is opening a product development and research facility where it will design, develop, and test EV chargers for the US.

This year ABB acquired a controlling interest in EV commercial charging infrastructure solutions company InCharge Energy, expanding ABB’s smart and connected EV offering.

ABB has also invested in EV charging software provider ChargeLab and signed a partnership agreement to develop next-generation software solutions for ABB charging stations.

These investments strengthen ABB’s position in the US market and further support its vertically integrated offering which includes charging hardware, digital services and advanced energy and fleet management systems.

ABB also decarbonises the marine industry by increasing the number of electric ferries and enabling greater capacity for shoreside electrification.

One such example is the sustainable technology solutions installed in two new Maid of the Mist passenger boats at Niagara Falls, in upstate New York. They are the first all-electric vessels built in the US and benefit from ABB’s zero-emission technology. Powered entirely by high-capacity battery packs, they enable visitors to experience The Falls undisturbed by the engine noise, vibration or exhaust fumes of a conventional diesel engine.

The company has been awarded two major contracts by Plug Power to provide electrical systems for two new hydrogen plants in North America. These are set to jointly produce 54.4 tonnes of green hydrogen daily, replacing some 154.2 tonnes of fossil fuels in the logistics and transportation sectors.

Ahead of the New York City E-Prix, ABB has released a new video in its series as part of the company’s partnership with FIA Girls on Track..

Featuring Cristina Mañas Fernández, performance and lead data science engineer at Jaguar TCS Racing, the video studies what attracted her to motorsport, her role at the team and the importance of giving equal opportunities to young children regardless of gender.

Following New York City, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to London for rounds 13 and 14 on July 30 and 31.