Mahindra & Mahindra, Ltd. and Renesas Electronics Corporation form of a strategic partnership around the Mahindra Racing Formula E team. Both parties will work together across several programs inclusive of ‘proof-of-concept’ systems for both racing and road cars, leveraging their mutual strengths to expand the development and manufacturing of electric vehicles, powertrain, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and other systems in India and other emerging markets.
Renesas includes electric vehicles (EVs) as one of their core automotive businesses and develops comprehensive solutions for them around its Renesas autonomy Platform introduced earlier this year. Renesas autonomy is an open, innovative and trusted platform which aims to accelerate the development of self-driving electric and connected vehicles for consumer adoption. It includes core technologies that are essential in the development of EVs, including motor and inverter control systems and battery management.
Mahindra Racing is one of ten founding teams – and the only Indian team – to compete in the FIA Formula E Championship, the world’s first all-electric racing series. The M3Electro race car, launched for season 3 which concluded in July 2017, proved to be a competitive package getting the team’s first race win, a total of ten podiums, three pole positions and two fastest lap awards. With these strong results, Mahindra Racing secured third place in the Teams’ Championship and rookie driver Felix Rosenqvist took third in the Drivers’ Championship. For Season 4, commencing in Hong Kong in December 2017, the team has high technical and sporting ambitions with its newly developed M4Electro race car that pushes the limits of technology and innovation.
Background: FIA Formula E Championship
The FIA Formula E Championship is the electric street racing series and the world’s first fully-electric international single-seater category in motorsport. Formula E brings electrifying wheel-to-wheel action to some of the world’s leading cities, racing against the backdrop of iconic skylines such as New York, Hong Kong, Paris and Rome. The inaugural season of Formula E sparked into life in September 2014 around the grounds of the Olympic Park in Beijing. The fourth edition of the FIA Formula E Championship will see 10 teams and 20 drivers compete in 11 cities spanning five continents in the fight to be crowned Formula E champion. Hong Kong hosts the season-opener over the course of two days on December 2 & 3, with the championship ending in Montreal on July 28 & 29.
Formula E is a competitive platform to test and develop road-relevant technologies, acting as a catalyst for sustainable mobility solutions - helping refine the design and functionality of electric vehicle components and improving the driving experience for everyday road car users all over the world. For this season, more manufacturers have joined the electric revolution with reigning champion Lucas di Grassi looking to defend his title behind the wheel of the Audi-backed ABT Schaeffler team. More big-name manufacturers have also committed to race in Formula E - including BMW and Nissan in tandem with the new-look car and battery in season five, along with Mercedes-Benz and Porsche who also plan to join the following year.
Curiosity racing? More information is available by visiting Formula E, Renesas Electronics Corporation, and Mahindra.