Bridgestone for Hankook, Podium AT builds battery: Formula E names suppliers for Gen4 era

The FIA and Formula E presented the standard parts suppliers for the next Formula E generation following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on Wednesday. Tyre supplier Bridgestone is returning to the global singleseater stage and succeeds Hankook. From Season 13 (2026/27), the standardised battery for Formula E will no longer be produced by WAE, but by the largely unknown company Podium Advanced Technologies. Marelli will supply the new front motors. The only consistency: Spark will remain responsible for the chassis of the Gen4 car.

The nominations were preceded by a tendering process, which began in June this year. The biggest surprise is undoubtedly that Hankook will no longer be the Formula E tyre supplier from season 13. The company had been driving a sustainability-focused tyre development for the third generation of cars. Hankook tyres will continue to be used in Formula E until the 2025/26 season, after which the South Koreans will switch to rallying, as Hankook will supply the WRC from 2025 onwards.

Bridgestone will supply the Formula E tyres from the end of 2026. For the first time since its withdrawal from Formula 1 in 2010, the Japanese manufacturer is once again supplying a single-seater FIA World Championship. The aim is to develop an all-weather tyre similar to the one currently in use. In addition, the FIA had commissioned a "typhoon tyre" to be used in heavy rain. The development of slicks is therefore still unlikely.

Podium AT prevails against WAE & McLaren Applied

If you look at the inside of the vehicle, a lot has changed here too. This is because Podium Advanced Technologies, a company previously unknown in Formula E, prevailed over old acquaintances such as WAE and McLaren Applied, which supplied the previous Formula E cars with batteries, to win the battery manufacturer contract. According to information from The Race, those had also applied for the position for Gen4.

Podium AT has made a name for itself in electric motorsport with the design of the MotoE battery packs and is now equipping an FIA World Championship for the first time. Although the cell structure will be similar to the motorbike series, the capacity will be significantly increased. While MotoE uses 18 kWh batteries, Formula E currently uses 38.5 kWh as standard. The Gen4 batteries were even advertised with 55 kWh due to the increased vehicle performance (600 kW are planned).

Spark stays, front motor remains standardised

The further development plans envisage that the Gen4 car will be equipped with a front and a rear motor. While it was previously rumoured that the front motors would be released to the manufacturers for in-house development, a one-make supplier has now been announced. The motor will be produced by the Italian company Marelli, which is now supplying WRC, WRX, WTCR, WEC and Formula E with electric control units as part of a larger agreement with the FIA.

In contrast, there is consistency in the production of the chassis, as Spark Racing Technology will continue to manufacture the body of the vehicle in the fourth Formula E era. Spark is the only manufacturer to have been involved from the start. As the first vehicle generation, Gen4 will be designed with all-wheel drive from the outset.

Suppliers for GEN4 confirmed by the @FIA ⚡

The companies providing the key components for our GEN4 race car, set to debut in Season 13, have been chosen after a thorough tender process.

- ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) December 6, 2023

No new info on Gen3.5

But before the switch to the fourth generation of Formula E cars is due, the current car is to receive a major update before season 11. This is now officially called "Gen3.5" - also known as Gen3EVO in the past. There are no details yet on which adjustments Formula E intends to make.

Activation of front-wheel drive, use of all-wheel drive in certain racing situations, softer tyres or an aerodynamics update "are all conceivable options", according to a Formula E press release. The main aim is to improve lap times by several seconds.