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    Wire to Wire: ABB Formula E EV Racing Series tests Portland track this weekend

    June 23, 2023
    The Southwire Portland E Prix, featuring world renown auto racing names such as Porsche, Maserati and Andretti, will be Saturday at the 12-turn Portland International Raceway for the first time in the series’ nine-year history
    Image credit ABB FIA Formula E
    Abb Formula E Website Photo 64950459898db

    Formula E may aim for cutting-edge verve and global charge, but a big part of its heart beats in America.

    The only U.S. race on the 2022-23 ABB FIA Formula E international circuit, this weekend’s contest tests 12 teams and drivers against each other and technology, aiming to both win and accelerate the next level of electric vehicle performance from battery to motor. The Southwire Portland E Prix, featuring world renown auto racing names such as Porsche, Maserati and Andretti, will be Saturday at the 12-turn Portland International Raceway for the first time in the series’ nine-year history.

    Swiss-based technology firm ABB, which among many ventures is rapidly growing its charging infrastructure offerings, is once again sponsor of the hyper-speed EV racing events. The FIA, known in the U.S. as the International Automobile Association, also has given Formula E its ruling stamp of approval.

    The previous six Formula Es in the U.S. were contested  at the Red Hook Neighborhood circuit track in Brooklyn. The energy and enthusiasm volume of the attendees at the Red Hook races last year showed that, while EV racing may still be working at relatively small popularity level compared to Formula 1 or Indy Racing, the interest and commitment is growing by leaps and bounds.

    Read our latest EnergyTech ENL for a full array of stories about the C&I Energy Transition

    Other venues this season include Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Berlin, Monaco, Jakarta, Rome and London, among other cities. 

    “Returning to the US, and to a new location, is perfect for ABB, as the country is our largest market by revenue,” Karin Lepasoon, ABB’s Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, said in a statement. “Being able to bring this platform for the showcasing and development of ground-breaking technology to such an important market, where we’ve invested more than $14 billion since 2010, is a great opportunity to help drive sustainable progress.”

    The Formula E is growing in global recognition, with many races televised and shown weekly. Among the circuit’s top drivers are Season 9 points leader Pascal Wehrlein, with the TagHeuer-Porsche team, and defending champion Stoffel Vandoorne with DS Automobiles-Penske.

    The cars are featuring the 300-kW GEN3 car chassis designed by Spark Racing Technology. All of the cars use those designs and also new tire technology developed by Hankook.

    The Formula E participants also utilize race charging systems by ABB. Each team, however, develops its own powertrain.

    EnergyTech will be covering the ABB Formula E Portland E Prix race live this weekend, just as we did last summer on Brooklyn.  Look for another story on the race early next week.

    About the Author

    Rod Walton, EnergyTech Managing Editor | Senior Editor

    For EnergyTech editorial inquiries, please contact Managing Editor Rod Walton at [email protected].

    Rod Walton has spent 15 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist. He formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    Walton earned his Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. His career stops include the Moore American, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Wagoner Tribune and Tulsa World. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids. The C&I sectors together account for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

    He was named Managing Editor for Microgrid Knowledge and EnergyTech starting July 1, 2023

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.

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