Aussie mining giant to hit the track in Formula E debut
Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson |
One of Australia’s biggest mining companies is taking its electric ambitions from the mine pit to pit lane and onto the racetrack.
Fortescue has announced plans to enter the Formula E World Championship, with an electric race car powered by Jaguar and an operation acquired from Penske.
If approved, the company could make its electric racing debut as soon as December and become the first Australian team in the competition.
The announcement comes two years after the West Australian-based firm became the championship’s PIT BOOST partner, providing rapid mid-race charging technology, and as Fortescue rolls out electric trucks to its mining operations.
The company acquired the Penske Formula E operation as part of its bid to join the race series, and will test technology developed by its own Fortescue Zero engineers.
Electric innovations developed and tested in the Formula E championship had already been deployed on mining sites, Fortescue growth and energy chief executive Gus Pichot said, to cut emissions from fossil fuels.
“For us, motorsports is more than just a chance to take home a championship trophy — it’s a platform to develop, test, and home in on the next great technologies that will transform industries beyond racing,” he said.
“Without motorsports as an incubator, we would not be as advanced in our decarbonisation journey as we are today.”
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has been running since 2014, and will introduce fourth-generation cars in the 2026/2027 season with a top speed of 335 km/h.
Teams in the championship will compete in 21 races across 13 events in 11 countries, including the UK, Japan, China and Monaco.
Creating electric vehicle technology for the race presented complex engineering challenges, Fortescue Zero electromobility chief technology officer Travis Hester said, and pushed the company to stretch its capabilities.
“Motor racing allows Fortescue Zero engineers to design and develop technologies at the cutting edge of performance and efficiency,” he said.
“Battery, software and hardware technology is proven in the harsh environment of racing, then efficiency applications applied throughout Fortescue’s mining and energy portfolio, as well as Fortescue Zero’s automotive and defence customers.”
AAP