Porsche’s Challenge to a New Era of Formula E

Porsche has announced the new Formula E car for the next two seasons, the all-new Porsche 99X Electric. This fully electric open-wheel racer complies with the latest regulations for the third generation of Formula E cars, known as GEN3 Evo, and features comprehensive improvements developed in-house by Porsche.

The new Porsche 99X Electric made its online debut on October 24, 2024. It was revealed in a video featuring Bruno Correia, Formula E’s safety car driver and GEN3 Evo development driver. Key technological innovations include the activation of front-wheel drive, high-grip tires, and an improved front wing.

World Champion Pascal Wehrlein and last season’s most winning driver Antonio Félix da Costa continue as official drivers for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. Additionally, two customer cars run by Andretti Formula E will be driven by former World Champion Jake Dennis and newly appointed Porsche works driver Nico Müller.

Porsche’s Unique Technological Evolution

This evolved model inherits the lineage of Porsche’s most successful formula sports cars. The GEN3 version of the Porsche 99X Electric won the Drivers’ World Championship two years in a row, with Dennis taking the title in the 2022/2023 season and Wehrlein in the 2023/2024 season.

The concept remains unchanged.
Regulations limit the available energy, forcing teams and drivers to optimize the car’s efficiency in every aspect. Manufacturer-developed components were allowed to be modified for the GEN3 Evo. Porsche’s development center in Weissach seized the opportunity to apply optimizations identified over the past two seasons, especially improving the drivetrain. Homologation of manufacturer components remains valid for two seasons again. The fourth generation, GEN4, is scheduled for introduction in Season 13 (2026/2027).

New Features of GEN3 Evo

The main technological innovations of GEN3 Evo relate to standardized hardware shared by all participating teams and manufacturers.

Going forward, front-wheel drive can be activated during qualifying duels, race starts, and Attack Mode. This allows the car to temporarily become all-wheel drive, enabling the Porsche 99X Electric to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in about 2 seconds. Efficiently managing the activation of front-wheel drive presents a new technical challenge, and insights gained here are expected to benefit Porsche’s production cars.

The new model can be identified mainly by its improved front wing. The new shape enhances stability and is more resistant to contact. Additionally, changes have been made to the covers behind the roll bar and in front of the rear wheels.

Color Scheme Symbolizing Advanced Electric Sports Cars

The new colors applied to the Porsche 99X Electric’s body are Purple Sky Metallic and Shade Green Metallic. These colors were used on the Taycan Turbo GT, Porsche’s most powerful production electric sports car announced earlier this year. The purple and green tones replace the traditional black, white, and red combination. These colors symbolize the transfer of technology from motorsport to production vehicles.

Key Specifications of the New Porsche 99X Electric

The main technical data for the Porsche 99X Electric (GEN3 Evo) are as follows:

• Drive output:
– Normal driving: 300 kW (408 hp)
– Attack Mode and qualifying duels: 350 kW (476 hp)

• Power transmission:
– Normal driving: Rear-wheel drive
– Attack Mode, qualifying duels, and race starts: All-wheel drive

• Acceleration performance:
– 0-100 km/h: approx. 2.0 seconds

• Energy regeneration:
– Maximum regenerative power of 600 kW (brake energy recovery)
– About 50% of race energy comes from brake energy recovery

• Braking system:
– Regenerative braking system: up to 250 kW electric braking force on the front axle, up to 350 kW on the rear axle
– Additional friction brakes on the front axle (“brake-by-wire” system)
– Front brake disc diameter: 258 mm
– Rear axle friction brakes operate only in emergencies (when regeneration is not functional)

• Tires:
– Hankook iON race tires with profiles suitable for dry and wet conditions
– Two sets per car per race weekend (three sets for double-header weekends)

• Lithium-ion battery:
– Supplied as a standard component
– Usable storage capacity: 38.5 kWh
– Weight: 285 kg

• CCS charging system (Combined Charging System):
– Supports ultra-fast charging with up to 600 kW charging power

• Weight and dimensions:
– Weight: 862 kg including driver
– Length: 5016 mm, Width: 1700 mm, Height: 1023 mm
– Wheelbase: 2970 mm
– Minimum ground clearance: up to 65 mm
– Front track: 1440 mm
– Rear track: 1380 mm

Porsche’s Proprietary Developed Components

Key components developed exclusively by Porsche include the pulse inverter, electric motor, gearbox, differential, drive shafts and other drive components of the rear axle, as well as cooling, support, suspension components of the rear axle, and operational software.

Meanwhile, major standardized components include the chassis and body, wheels and tires, front axle drive, cooling, suspension components, and the accumulator.

Porsche’s Formula E Participation

The 2024/2025 season marks Porsche’s sixth participation in Formula E. In addition to the works team TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, the American customer team Andretti Formula E will also compete with the Porsche 99X Electric.

This innovative electric racing car concept was developed at Porsche’s carbon-neutral Weissach facility. Through its participation in the World Championship, Porsche demonstrates leadership among traditional automakers in electrification, sustainability, and technology. The experience gained in Formula E provides valuable insights for Porsche’s electric production sports cars.

With the introduction of the new Porsche 99X Electric, Porsche is expected to further enhance its competitiveness in Formula E while advancing the development of electric sports cars. Porsche fans will be keenly watching how this latest technological masterpiece will influence future Porsche electric sports cars.