Formula One – The Unsung Hero of Electric Vehicle Development?

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely depressed sales and growth in the auto industry. With most of the world on lockdown for months on end and work-from-home policies becoming the new norm, the last six months have seen drastic changes in consumers’ mobility patterns.

Despite the automotive industry facing challenges around the globe, a silver lining has emerged in the form of increased interest in the electric vehicle (EV) market and we’re seeing a surge in momentum as governments and consumers continue to shift toward a greener, lower emission society. According to automotive data suppliers JATO, registrations of petrol and diesel cars in Europe fell by one-third, year-on-year in June 2020. Despite this, they report that EV sales were up almost two-thirds over the same period. The International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook has predicted that the number of EVs on the road is expected to reach almost 10 million in 2020.

As automakers and OEMs shift their focus from internal combustion engine technologies to revamping their full portfolio of hybrid and fully electric vehicle components and systems, the industry must transform its approach to design and engineering. And one unexpected starting place – one not traditionally associated with sustainability and clean mobility – is the racetracks of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, home of the most powerful– yet energy-efficient– hybrid-electric drivetrains in the world.

As the pinnacle of automotive technology, Formula One is a true “laboratory on wheels” where hybrid-electric technologies and materials get tried and tested, before filtering down to the latest commercial vehicles on our roads. KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) is a great example of this track-to-road technology. Originally introduced to F1 in 2009 to 2013, the electric hybrid system captured braking energy from the car and stored it in the battery for the driver to use later on in the lap. Showcasing “green technology” in the sport, KERS gave F1 drivers a 10% increase in power, accessing a burst of 80 horsepower for 6.7 seconds a lap. While more efficient hybrid energy sources have now entered the sport, we have since seen an influx of KERS technology in hybrid-electric passenger vehicles, converting kinetic energy to electric energy to help drive electric motors and improve fuel economy.

Like many, we’re using the sport (through our technical partnership with Renault DP World F1 Team) as a test bed to innovate, with the ultimate aim of seeing how these next-generation materials and technologies can filter down into development of the most efficient vehicles on our roads. Our Nomex® solutions are a key example of this “track to road” mentality. In Formula One, Nomex® insulation can be found incorporated into the car’s advanced hybrid-electric motor, enabling it to run hotter, faster and longer; increasing thermal efficiency and reducing the risk of potential problems on race day. We have taken Nomex® successes from the extreme environments of Formula One, as a market leader in e-motor slot liner insulation and have made it the standard for passenger car electric motors, targeting ultra-high performance in the smallest, lightest and most reliable e-motor package.

The industry expects the EV market to continue to grow over the coming decade, as consumers and businesses become aligned with the need to develop a more environmentally sound approach to the future of mobility. This growth will require next-generation technologies and materials to be developed quickly, and the test bed of Formula One will be an excellent proving ground. With the most advanced hybrid-electric drivetrain in the world, and constant innovation in battery performance and safety, we’ll continue to see these technologies adapted and downsized and taking pride of place in the electric vehicle on your roads in the near future.

At DuPont, our goal as strategic partners to all our customers is to constantly innovate, and the electric and hybrid vehicle market is a key focus of our automotive work. We’re working with customers to help create newer and more advanced technology, which will enable lighter vehicles, more efficient motors and long-lasting reliable batteries – helping them ride this wave of consumer confidence in the latest EV technologies.