Fortescue Zero CEO Coates: "Pit-Boost technology not only takes motorsport to a new level"

The British company Fortescue Zero is known to have developed the fast chargers that have recently been used for the first time in Formula E for Pit Boost. In a recent Formula E publication, CEO Ellie Coates talks about the advantages of the new technology.

The Pit Boost technology was used for the first time a few weeks ago at the Formula E Jeddah E-Prix in Saudi Arabia and will also be used at the other double-header races this season. With Pit Boost, the cars are recharged with 3.85 kWh of energy during a mandatory pit stop in order to obtain ten per cent more energy.

The recharging system has been designed to allow two recharges per race with one portable unit. By using onboard energy storage, the 600 kW boost is not tied to a grid connection.

The ultra-fast technology used for the Pit Boost is enhanced by Fortescue Zero's Elysia battery intelligence software, which enables speed optimisation while maintaining battery life and integrity. Elysia enables the race car battery to achieve a charge C-rate of around 15C.

Technology transfer from motorsport

Fortescue Zero is also using its boost innovations to develop real-world solutions for road transport and heavy industry applications. This includes a 6 MW battery solution designed to be compatible with a wide range of battery electric heavy mining equipment.

"The ultra-fast boost technology used in the Pit Boost, not only takes motorsports to a new level, it also has a flow on effect to real-world practicalities too, including in Heavy Industry and on-road electric vehicle applications," says Ellie Coates, CEO of Fortescue Zero. "Fortescue Zero pushes the limits of what batteries, their infrastructure and intelligence systems can do in a safe, tested and innovative way."

Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds also says: "The successful development and integration of Fortescue Zero's Pit Boost technology has not only been a positive gamer-changer for the racing our fans can expect, but is one of the biggest new features introduced into world-motorsport in recent memory."

"This new technology will have enormous real-world benefits and tangibly contributes to our overarching mission of accelerating the development and uptake of EVs around the world," explains Dodds. The next Pit Boost deployment is scheduled for the Monaco E-Prix on 3-4 May.