Electric Vehicle Racing

Electric racing is still a niche compared to traditional motorsports, but its role as a technology incubator is critical. Formula E and Extreme E have proven viability, while MotoE and ETCR expand the scope. Grassroots eKarting and amateur conversions show that electrification is spreading across all levels of motorsport. Sponsorship and manufacturer involvement are increasing as automakers leverage racing to test innovations for mainstream EVs. Over the next decade, expect rapid cross-pollination between racing technologies and consumer EVs, particularly in batteries, power electronics, and digital optimization.

Technology Stack

Electric racing pushes EV technology beyond typical consumer specifications, with direct influence on future production vehicles.

Spotlight: Formula E Gen3 Car

The FIA Formula E Gen3 car, introduced in 2023, represents the most advanced all-electric racing platform to date. It is lighter, faster, and more efficient than its Gen2 predecessor, showcasing innovations that directly influence consumer EVs, including silicon carbide inverters, high-regeneration braking, and sustainable materials in chassis and tires. Each team runs the same chassis and battery spec, but OEMs supply their own powertrains, making it a balanced proving ground for EV technologies.

Tech Transfer: Formula E to Consumer EVs

Formula E is not just a motorsport showcase — it acts as a rolling laboratory for technologies that filter directly into production cars and commercial EV fleets. Many advancements first proven in racing are now shaping the mass market.

Electric Motorcycle Racing

Electric motorcycle racing is a growing discipline within motorsport, demonstrating how high-performance two-wheelers can compete at world-class levels. The most notable series is the FIM MotoE World Cup, which launched in 2019 as a companion to MotoGP. All teams run spec electric bikes, with Energica supplying machines in the early years and Ducati taking over as the official supplier from 2023 onward. MotoE showcases compact battery packs, advanced liquid cooling, and high-power electric drivetrains designed for endurance and safety on professional circuits.

Drone Racing

Drone racing is a rapidly growing electric motorsport that showcases the convergence of lightweight electrification, digital control, and immersive piloting. Pilots wear FPV (first-person view) goggles streaming live video from onboard cameras, steering ultrafast drones through obstacle courses at up to 120 mph. The most prominent professional series is the Drone Racing League (DRL), while MultiGP and regional clubs anchor grassroots racing worldwide. Drone racing emphasizes energy-dense batteries, ultra-responsive brushless motors, and low-latency telemetry, making it a proving ground for compact high-performance electrification.

Other Electric Racing Categories

Beyond cars, motorcycles, and drones, electric racing is spreading into multiple domains — from water to air to heavy trucks. These series are smaller but represent important proving grounds for technology that can transfer into broader electrification efforts.