Formula E has unveiled its most ambitious development yet: the Gen4 race car. It’s quick, with a jaw-dropping 0-60mph time of just 1.8 seconds. That’s quicker off the line than a Formula 1 car. Set to debut in the 2026-27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the Gen4 is the next evolution of electric vehicle motorsport.
Formula E, which had its first season in 2014, was initially treated as a curiosity by motorsport fans. The early cars were efficient, but not that fast. And the noise — or lack of it — left many fans unimpressed. But over the past decade, the series has matured from a low-whir novelty into a high-stakes, manufacturer-backed competition.
It’s now a proving ground for electric car technology, and with Gen4, Formula E might have just stepped out of F1’s shadow.
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A big development for electric motorsports
The Gen4 car is significantly bigger than the current Gen3 Evo car, with two distinct aero configurations and more aggressive bodywork styling.
The Gen4 is the fastest and most advanced car the Formula E championship has ever fielded. With 600kW of power on tap — equivalent to over 815 horsepower — the car features active all-wheel drive throughout the race. It also introduces advanced aerodynamics with two setups: a high-downforce mode for qualifying, and a low-drag configuration for race conditions, dubbed Attack Mode.
In Attack Mode, the Gen4 car delivers full power for dramatic overtakes, and its regenerative braking system now peaks at 700kW. The electric car will recover energy so efficiently that 40% of the car’s race power can come from braking alone. The energy capacity has also been increased to 55kWh, opening the door to more aggressive race strategies.
The Gen4 car is built from 100% recyclable materials
While the Formula E Gen4 racing car might look similar to a Formula 1 car, there’s plenty different for fans to enjoy.
Performance is only part of the equation. The Gen4 is constructed from 100% recyclable materials and incorporates at least 20% recycled content throughout its design.
According to Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, the Gen4 is “far more than a race car. It represents over a decade of progress, innovation, and ambition in electric racing.” He called it the most demanding and sustainable machine Formula E has ever built.
Marek Nawarecki, senior circuit sport director at the FIA, the governing body of motorsport, echoed that sentiment, noting that it “raises the bar” and gives manufacturers more room to showcase road-relevant technologies than ever before.
The car is now entering testing with the teams in the championship, including Porsche, Nissan, Stellantis, Jaguar and Lola Cars. Each manufacturer will fine-tune the platform using their own energy management strategies. The look of the Gen4 car will also change somewhat, as each team unveils its own unique livery.
Will Formula E step out of Formula 1’s shadow?
While the Formula E Gen4 car might not look very colorful yet, each team will add their own livery before the racing car hits the track.
This latest leap in technology could be the moment Formula E grabs the attention of a broader audience — particularly those who once dismissed it.
“Much-maligned by some racing naysayers, I think Gen4 might be the machine that propels Formula E closer to the mainstream, given the huge jump in speeds,” said Jack Oliver Smith, deputy editor of Motorsport Week. “The rapid lap times these cars are expected to clock, and the technology that has gone into this, will undoubtedly attract those interested in the sustainability aspect, but also the general racing purists who may have dismissed Formula E in the past.”
For a sport that has long been seen as the future of racing, Gen4 might just be the car that finally brings it into the present.
