Electric Motorsports – Are Formula E and Other Electric Options The Future?

Petrolheads may never be willing to change their nickname to “electric-heads” but the vehicles used in the sports are already changing. Formula E may have been referred to as the future by some industry experts, but viewership is already in the hundreds of millions – perhaps we need to refer to Formula E as being a sport for the present.

We look at attempts to create a behemoth sport (in the ilk of Formula 1) from the changing motor vehicle industry. Electric vehicles were already important in the world of motorsports before they became a mainstay of the home vehicle market. Early land speed records were set by electric cars rather than petrol models, for example, but the 21st century is seeing a big renaissance.

Formula E is Already a Sporting Giant

Formula E is a sporting giant. It is already a popular sport among viewers, with 225 million people tuning in to events in the last season. Betting companies offer markets on motorsports, and with such a huge viewership it is no surprise we are seeing more markets for motorsports on Bodog Sportsbook – Formula E’s popularity has made it one option within sportsbooks, with people betting on the championship overall as well as individual races and other markets.

Formula E is broadcast in countries as diverse as Brazil, Italy, the US, the UK, and India, which have helped to increase the viewership. In some places, it is already free to air. 2014–15 was the inaugural season and as the competition approaches a decade on the track, we’re seeing it go from strength to strength.

In the recent GEN3 campaign, with updated vehicles and exceptional drivers, there were lots of new records set including the highest speed and an increased average lap time. All of this has helped to make a thrilling season, with Andretti’s Jake Dennis winning his first World Championship.

Going into the double-header that completes the Formula E season, there were four racers that could potentially have won. Fans of Formula 1 will know that this is pretty rare in motorsports’ most famous competition, especially in recent years.

Recent Motor Sport Achievements Using Electric Cars

Fans of motorsports or enthusiasts of motor vehicles may already be aware of some massive achievements of electric motors. In 2015, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb saw electric cars win all places.

E-RacingCar, a company aiming to create an impressive range and powerful electric cars was launched, providing a 140 kW engine that has been used in competitive sports.

The Paris-Dakar Rally has already been infiltrated by electric cars, too! A car with a 250 kW engine managed the whole 5,600-mile trip, with a specially-designed engine with modular parts to recharge the power. Since then, Audi has created cars that have completed the same journey.

Other Electric Motorsports

We’ve mentioned Formula E already, and this is seen as the gold standard when it comes to motorsports, but there are quite a few others now making waves in the industry.

Extreme E is one such tournament making a name for itself, partially because the competition has such extreme conditions, taking place in places like the Amazon or even in Arctic conditions. The competition has been going on for just three years but has become quite widely watched, and it aims to shine a light on certain environmental issues, too. People are drawn to the locations as well as the skill of the drivers.

MotoE World Championship is another motorsport with electricity as the driving force. Once known as the MotoE World Cup, the series is overseen by the FIM and grew to World Championship status in 2023 with 35km races on impressive electric motorcycles. Races take place around Europe but there is speculation of expansion in the future.

Will Formula 1 Go Electric?

Formula 1 bosses have always been quick to bat away this question with the speed of one of their cars. Who can blame them? Formula 1 cars are still faster than their electric counterparts, and the sport is one of the most popular in the world. Changing it seems like something the world is not ready for, but Formula E’s growth does show that people are happy to watch racing with electric vehicles.

Any changes to Formula 1 would currently be drastic, and revolutionary steps would be taken by the drivers and the teams. All teams competing are based on fuel engines and don’t currently have the infrastructure (or appetite) to switch. Formula 1 is focusing on sustainability in other ways, which is a positive step.

Conclusion

Formula 1 is not likely to be overtaken (pun intended) any time soon, but there’s no reason Formula E and other electric motorsports can’t grow to similar levels, with a huge appetite among fans to watch events alongside F1 already proven by the hundreds of millions watching Formula E and MotoE-style events.