ABB Formula E London E-Prix showcases sustainable transport

EV charging technological development and powertrain electrification will be highlighted during the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in London on July 30 and 31.

Kiwis Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy will be driving for the Jaguar TCS Racing team and Envision Racing respectively, both having podium finishes in New York.

The series returns to the ExCeL London exhibition centre this weekend which will see the field move from indoors to outdoors on the 22-turn, 2.141km track, which has been slightly modified for Season 8 with a new chicane complex around turns 10-13.

“In a city where combatting air pollution is a focal point, sustainable transportation is a key part of the solution,” says ABB chief communications and sustainability officer Theodor Swedjemark.

“Showcasing the technology and potential of e-mobility in London is a great way to change perceptions of EVs and drive increased adoption – something ABB is proud to support in helping to create a more sustainable future.”

Transportation of people, goods and raw materials accounts for 30% of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide and is a focal point for change around the world, ABB explains.

 ABB is helping businesses accelerate decarbonization by delivering complete electrical powertrain solutions for a range of industrial vehicles, transportation and marine vessels,” says ABB UK country managing director David Hughes.

“Electric motors can achieve 95% efficiency, while diesel engines only reach 45% efficiency in the optimum load range, so this technological development – from electrification of powertrains to implementation of effective and comprehensive charging infrastructure – is crucial.”

Public EV charge points in the UK have been growing by an average 44% annually since 2015.

ABB has around 1500 chargers in operation in the UK and is continuously working to improve access.

ABB’s Ultrafast DC and Fast DC EV chargers will support the new Gridserve Electric Highway charging network across the UK which will include coverage for 85% of the UK’s motorway network, as well as in towns and cities across the country.

The resulting increased energy demand focuses attention on renewable energy and grid stability – and this is another area in which ABB technology is delivering sustainable solutions in the UK. An example is a 25 million pound “Greener Grid Park” scheme in the final stages of construction, which will increase the amount of green energy being used throughout Liverpool.

ABB is supporting Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, Statkraft, in the project with technology, operations and long-term maintenance services.

The London E-Prix will also host an FIA Girls on Track event, of which ABB is a global partner. It offers girls aged eight to 18 the opportunity to explore multiple aspects of the motorsport industry through a range of activities and workshops. One of these will focus on ABB robotics and feature the GoFa collaborative robot.

Ahead of the London E-Prix, ABB has released a new video featuring Formula E chief of staff Hannah Brown. The video explores her views on the increase in women in engineering roles in the sport and the importance of closing the gap in belief she feels potentially still exists with young girls.

Following London, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship makes its debut in Seoul, South Korea, for the final two rounds of Season 8 on August 13 and 14.

ABB is also about to launch its powerful Terra 360 charger in New Zealand.