ZF Friedrichshafen has entered in to a long term technology partnership with the Venturi Formula E team to compete in the FIA Formula E electric racing series.
From the start of the 2016/17 season, ZF will be supporting Venturi with suspension and drivetrain system technology and components, simulation and testing resources and other engineering inputs.
The principal objective of the partnership is the design and development of a completely new driveline that encompasses electric motor, inverter and transmission. ZF, together with the Venturi Formula E team, will design and develop a complete powertrain and suspension system to meet the challenge of the Season 5 Formula E technical regulations when the FIA Technical Road Map demands the use of only one car per driver.
During Season 3, the new season beginning in October, Venturi will race with high-performance shock absorbers specially developed by ZF Race Engineering and the companies have formulated a clear plan in other technological areas of development in order to generate additional value for the partnership.
Venturi is banking on ZF’s renowned competencies in the development of a new, all-electric driveline as well as the comprehensive know-how and technology of ZF Race Engineering to put its team at the forefront of the fast-developing FIA Formula E championship. For the fourth season, ZF and Venturi will jointly redesign and further optimize the transmission currently implemented in the Venturi Formula E cars. At the same time, development is already underway on the aforementioned new ZF driveline, which will comprise a state of the art electric motor including power electronics as well as a new transmission. As the core of the Venturi race car, this new driveline will be tested during the fourth season of the FIA Formula E series and will race from the start of the fifth season in Q4 2018 with a clear aim of winning races and challenging for the coveted FIA Formula E title.
Commenting on the partnership, Gildo Pallanca Pastor, Venturi Formula E team owner, said: “We are very proud to have gained ZF as our technology partner as we look to mount a serious challenge for FIA Formula E honours.
“ZF’s reputation as a technology leader is renowned across the world. We will work together to create innovative solutions, products and processes using the great resources and skilled personnel of ZF in order to stand at the top of the winner’s podium with ZF as our partner.”
Dr Stefan Sommer, CEO of ZF, added, “For us, the technology partnership with Venturi in FIA Formula E gives us impetus for new technologies that will ideally also find their way to daily street use. Electrification is the key to individual mobility of the future and, using the exciting Formula E platform, we aim to make a significant contribution to the success of Venturi.
“Winning will allow us to prove our exceptional competences as a lead development partner and technology leader and winning with Venturi will also strengthen our credentials in motorsports within electric powertrain competition cars. The FIA Formula E series, with its forward-looking and sustainability-oriented concept, provides the ideal setting for ZF to showcase our talents.”
