Skip to main content

Mercedes-Benz hopes to repeat its Formula One success in all-electric Formula E

Mercedes-Benz is dominating Formula One racing. The German automaker won its fifth straight drivers’ and constructors’ championship double in 2018. Now Mercedes is trying to apply its winning ways to Formula E, a race series for electric cars. Debuting at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the EQ Silver Arrow 01 is Mercedes’ first all-electric race car.

The electric Mercedes uses the same “Gen 2” design as all other Formula E race cars. Series rules require all teams to use the same chassis and battery pack, although teams are allowed to customize other components, like the electric motors. This is meant to keep costs down and competitiveness up. That’s very different from the “spare no expense” world of Formula One, where Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull have an advantage over the other teams because of their deeper pockets.

Mercedes traditionally refers to its race cars as “Silver Arrows,” going back to prewar machines that wore unpainted bodywork to save weight. “EQ,” meanwhile, is Mercedes’ designation for electrified powertrains, both hybrid and all-electric. The German automaker is methodically adding mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains to its production cars, and will soon launch the EQ C electric SUV. But this race car is a completely different animal.

The specifications for Mercedes’ EQ Silver Arrow 01 are similar to those of other Formula E cars. The race car does zero to 60 mph in a supercar-like 2.7 seconds and has a top speed of 174 mph, according to Mercedes. The 52-kilowatt-hour battery pack takes 45 minutes to charge, although that’s not something that takes place during a race. Cars have to run the entire race on one charge. Previously, Formula E drivers switched cars halfway through each race. That made for an interesting spectacle, but didn’t present the best image of electric cars to the public.

The rules of Formula E also mean the EQ Silver Arrow 01 has different power outputs for different situations. During the qualifying sessions that determine the starting positions for each race, the car makes 340 horsepower. But during the race itself, the output is dialed back to 272 hp. That is unless the driver activates “Attack Mode” by driving across a specific area of the track. Then output temporarily increases to 306 hp. Spectators can also vote to give their favorite driver a “Fan Boost,” providing a brief surge of 340 hp.

Gimmicks like “Attack Mode” and “Fan Boost” may rankle traditional race fans, but they are aimed at bringing in a new generation of fans whose idea of exciting racing is an intense round of Mario Kart. That emphasis on engaging with new demographics, as well as Formula E’s eco-friendly image and comparatively low running costs, has attracted a host of automakers. Both Mercedes and Porsche will join for the 2019-2020 season, and Formula E’s ranks already include Audi, BMW, Jaguar, and Nissan.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is a luxury SUV for the family
mercedes benz eqs suv preview

Mercedes-Benz is expanding its EQ lineup of electric cars with a new SUV model. As the name suggests, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is based on the same platform as the EQS sedan released last year. The two models also share powertrain hardware, styling, and key tech features — including Mercedes’ 56-inch Hyperscreen display.

The EQS SUV adds a third row of seats (for a total of seven) and the taller ride height and driving position that have made U.S. car shoppers fall in love with SUVs. When it reaches U.S. dealerships later in 2022, it should help boost sales of the EQ line.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept is a luxury EV with a 621-mile range
The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX concept in motion.

Ahead of CES 2022, Mercedes-Benz unveiled an electric concept car that pushes the limits of efficiency and range.

The Vision EQXX boasts a claimed range of over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), or about 100 miles more than the current range champ, the 520-mile Lucid Air. Mercedes didn't achieve that by simply using a bigger battery pack. In fact, at 100 kilowatt-hours of usable capacity, the concept car's pack is close in size to the Air's. Instead, Mercedes focused on making every part of the Vision EQXX — from tires to batteries — as efficient as possible.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz EQS first drive review: Plush enough to make Tesla owners jealous
Front three quarter view of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS.

A Mercedes-Benz electric sedan was inevitable. The meteoric success of the Tesla Model S, plus stricter European emissions standards gave Mercedes no choice but to meet Tesla on the EV battlefield. But a company that’s been building cars for over 100 years doesn’t rush into anything.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan is our first glimpse at the automaker’s electric future. It heralds a range of electric cars for North America (including an EQS SUV) and showcases new technology, including the largest infotainment touchscreen ever fitted to a production car. Mercedes didn’t choose the name EQS by accident. “EQ” is the automaker’s electric sub-brand, while “S” signifies that this car is the electric equivalent to Mercedes’ traditional flagship, the S-Class sedan.

Read more