Formula E: Gen1 vs Gen2 car battle

Formula E’s next season is fast approaching, and – as you know – features not only new teams, but also radically different new cars.

The batteries are almost twice as big, meaning no mid-race car swap. There’s more power, too, up 50kW to 250kW for qualifying and 200kW for the race. And crucially for us mere mortals, they’re faster.

How much faster than a first generation Formula E car, you might ask? Watch the video above. The series decided to hold a set of drag races between old and new to showcase just how much more speed and braking and speed is heading your way very soon.

Audi’s Lucas di Grassi was the pilot for the Gen1 car – remember, he’s been involved with FE since that start (and is also the boss of autonomous racing series Roborace) – while BMW Motorsport’s Antonio Felix da Costa strapped himself into the Gen2 car. Bit unfair, but OK.

There’s a 0-62mph race, 0-93-0mph race, and a straight 250m drag race. You know the winner. The key here is finding out just how big the margin is. For more on season five, click here.