Formula E fans will have to wait until next season to experience the excitement of fast battery charging pit stops. Originally planned to debut halfway through the 2023 season with the new Gen3 Formula E cars, logistical issues with the supply chain have forced the implementation to be delayed until the following season.
The updated system will not only reintroduce mandatory pit stops, but each time a driver uses one of the quick charging stations, they will earn two “Attack Charges,” giving their vehicle a temporary boost in power for a limited time. This change could have a profound effect on performance and alter the sporting format mid-season.
While the technology for the new pit stops is available and functional, Formula E co-founder Alberto Longo emphasized that the main issue is the supply chain. “We would love to have it this season, but I don’t think at the moment it’s totally viable to implement it,” he said in an interview with Motorsport Total.
The pit stops in Formula E have always been a point of contention for fans. In the series’ first few seasons, drivers had to swap cars mid-race due to battery limitations. That issue was resolved with the introduction of a newer, higher capacity car design in 2018, but pit stops have still been a non-factor in the racing series. The new fast charging system promises to change that, but fans will have to wait until next season to see it in action.
