Lucas di Grassi believes fast charging in Formula E could be a game-changer for the championship as the all-electric series looks to introduce another strategic element in the races.
Fast charging was set to feature at selected Formula E events in Season 9 but was delayed until Season 10 in 2024.
The new sporting rule was originally set to see the drivers make a mandatory pit stop of around 30 seconds, where they will receive four kilowatt hours of energy, with a 600kW boost. Total-Motorsport.com understands these figures could be changed for 2024.
“It creates a new element of strategy,” Di Grassi exclusively told Total-Motorsport.com. “It’s very interesting. It’s a technology that we need in the cars and it’s very road relevant.
“It will create a very different dynamic for the race. People stopping in the middle of the race, at the end, maybe you stop at the beginning you lose the slipstream effect, but if there is a safety car, you catch up.
“I think we will create a lot of different strategies and people love to see the cars on the pitstop, so these elements will be well received by people in Formula E.”
Pack racing in Formula E
A major talking point in the middle of the 2023 season was Formula E‘s new style of pack racing as the high drag Gen3 cars and tracks with long straights led to no one wanting to be at the front, punching a hole in the air for everyone else.
Another contributing factor was Formula E‘s decision to have a low energy usage at some events and Di Grassi is happy for fans to decide whether the peloton-style racing is what the championship needs.
“It can be counter-acted in many ways including the car performance,” explained Di Grassi. “Is that what we really want? Because the races have a lot of overtakes.
“You can have a bigger battery and you can have fast charging and that would break up the slipstream effect. So it depends on what we want to achieve.
“If you don’t know what you want to achieve, it’s very hard to point out what you need to change. Some people love the racing, some don’t, so what is needed? Then you can come back with a sporting or technical solution.”
When is the 2024 Formula E season?
The new Formula E season begins with pre-season testing from Valencia at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo from October 23-27, with Mexico City hosting the 2024 opener on January 13.
