The next generation of Formula E battery has completed its first full race simulation.
The 2018/19 battery, provided by McLaren Applied Technologies, should have double the amount of useable energy as the current battery, meaning drivers will be able to complete a full race in one car.
Professor Burkhard Goschel, president of the FIA’s Electric and New Energies Championships Commision, said progress was being made, but McLaren Applied Technologies still has problems to tackle in a very tight timeframe.
“[A full simulation] has been done and it shows up as being very positive and we can show that simulation is nearly the same reality,” he told Autosport.
“We still have some issues and, with the timing, we just have to get ready with the main issues with functional testing.
“One issue always with battery and the electrical drive is the cooling because the load in our case is a very, very strong one.
“We will be recharging very deeply and the inner-resistance goes up and the requirement for cooling is going up.
“From the first season we have managed it, and I think we can manage it now too.”
Goschel also said weight was a big challenge for those developing the new battery. The 2018/19 car is expected to weigh 930kg, which is more than 40kg over the initial target.
The added weight comes from additional cells which Goschel says were added to “meet some additional requirement”.
McLaren Advanced Technologies is working to a very tight time frame. The first on-track testing is planned for October this year. About a year before the batteries are due in the car.
“It is proceeding well, but we know that it is tight time wise, and we will see this summer where we are at the end, but all signs which are coming out are looking positive,” Goschel said.
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