Leveraging on Formula E

Preceding the inaugural Putrajaya ePrix recently, FIA Formula E drivers Sam Bird of Virgin Racing and (female driver) Michela Cerruti from Trulli Formula E Team participated in a sharing session with the engineering faculty of Heriot-Watt University.
As the world's first fully-electric racing series, and Putrajaya ePrix being only the second leg of the recently sanctioned competition – this came as an exclusive opportunity for the aspiring engineering students to gather first hand information on the new generation motor sport.
Besides relating their experience at the inaugural race in Beijing, Bird and Cerruti offered insights on the unique traits of a fully-electric car, as well as the advantages and challenges it poses during the race. One of the main points learnt was the need for two cars to complete the race and the fact that a different set of skills are required of the driver, which is to conserve as much battery power as possible in order to complete the race.
Bird also revealed the positive reception that the FIA Formula E Championship has received from the motorsport industry. With the support behind the underlying message in promoting sustainability, he believes the competition will drive the manufactures to invest in research and development of electric cars, which hopefully will lead to commercial manufacturing in the future. Cerruti pointed out that an important factor would be the durability of the battery.
Also present at the sharing session was Formula E race car engineer Theo Gouzin who took on more technical questions from the students and voiced his thoughts on constructing a supercar.

In his opening remarks, Heriot Watt University provost and CEO Professor Robert J M Craik acknowledged the great opportunity and inspiration from the sharing session especially for aspiring mechanical engineering students, as being in the motorsports industry is one of the most coveted jobs for those under the course study.
The FIA Formula E Championship is the world's first fully-electric racing series. The race which is competed entirely on city-centre circuits, took to the streets of Putrajaya with 10 teams and 20 drivers racing in fully-electric single seaters. It has spearheaded a new generation of motor sports, one that promotes sustainability. The inaugural E series will continue to Uruguay, Argentina, US, Monaco, Germany and the UK.