The Formula E paddock is starting to feel a sense of unease and perhaps even shame regarding the potential implementation of the long-delayed ‘attack charge’ energy-boosting pitstops. After the recent testing ended with one of the chargers needing to be isolated and the cancellation of a crucial practice session, teams will meet with the FIA this Thursday to discuss the way forward for the plans.
Williams Advanced Engineering [WAE], the suppliers of the infrastructure, have been analyzing what went wrong in Mexico City when Envision Racing encountered a problem with the kit, resulting in its isolation for investigation. This led to the cancellation of the planned second free practice session for all teams in Mexico City and the test in Diriyah at the end of January.
The pitstops in free practice will return for Sao Paulo this week, but with some teams having limited experience with the equipment, time is running out for them to be implemented in the current campaign. If the implementation is delayed for another season, it will be two campaigns behind schedule, as the original plan was to introduce the attack charge pitstops for Gen3 in January 2023.
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds acknowledged that the ongoing saga could be embarrassing for the championship. He emphasized the importance of launching the pitstops only when they are fully developed and capable of delivering the desired results. The goal is to showcase the ability to charge battery electric vehicles in 30 seconds for a 10% battery boost. Dodds stated that Formula E will not go live until they are 100% confident in the technology.
Dodds explained that ‘right’ in this context means that the pitstops work effectively and safely and enhance the sporting format. Formula E aims to avoid confusing fans with a format that is inferior to the previous racing format. The goal is to launch the pitstops when they are deemed ready.
Sao Paulo this week will see the return of practice charges in the first practice session on Friday afternoon, followed by another trial in the early morning Saturday session. The FIA is expected to establish guidelines for teams to complete at least one pit-stop charge in each free practice session, with the option to perform additional non-power charges simultaneously. The Tokyo E-Prix in March will provide the FIA with an opportunity to assess the equipment before potential racing implementation in Misano the following month.
Even if the tests go well, there is likely to be resistance from teams and drivers who see the plans as problematic. The FIA and Formula E have several possibilities, including pushing ahead with the pitstops if they are confident in their functionality and fairness, further delaying the implementation until Berlin in May, or completely scrapping them for this season and incorporating them into the new Gen3Evo era next season. A second consecutive season of delays could have severe consequences for the future of the pitstops.
The opinions in Formula E regarding the attack charge pitstops are divided. While some see potential value in them, most are not in favor. Drivers and teams are concerned about the reliability and the impact on race outcomes, as double-stacking is not permitted. The uncertainty surrounding the pitstops and the potential sacrifice of performance for one driver over another are major concerns.
While some drivers, like Sam Bird, are generally supportive of the idea, they also emphasize the need for reliability. They believe that introducing the pitstops now would be premature, considering the ongoing issues in the pit lane. The fear is that the pitstops could create unfairness in races if failures occur due to supplier faults.
In conclusion, the Formula E paddock is grappling with the potential implementation of the ‘attack charge’ pitstops, facing challenges in terms of reliability, fairness, and the impact on the sporting format. The decision on whether to proceed with the pitstops or further delay their introduction will have significant implications for the future of Formula E.