Formula E may not be on the level of Formula One in terms of prestige, but the growing popularity of the electric racing series cannot be denied, so much so that some of the biggest electronic companies are jostling one another to secure the sport’s new battery deal. Two of these companies happen to be Japanese tech giants - Sony and Panasonic - and both are among a handful of firms that have submitted applications for the chance to win the rights to design and produce the batteries that will be used in Formula E beginning in the 2018 season.
According to Motorsport.com, Sony’s bid includes McLaren Electronic Systems as a partner. MEC is the same company that supplied the motors to all of the teams that competed in the inaugural 2015 season. The Japanese company’s interest in Formula E is a logical fit considering that the company is among the biggest electronics manufacturers in the world. The same holds for Panasonic, which already has a history in Formula E as a partner of the Dragon Racing team in the first two seasons of the series.
In addition to Sony and Panasonic, other companies that have also lined up their respective applications include Red Bull Technologies, Renault, DS, Mahindra, Williams Advanced Engineering, and Total, in conjunction with SAFT SA. A ninth company has also made a bid but its identity has yet to be revealed.
FIA officials are expected to meet with their Formula E counterparts to discuss the applications before a winner is announced. There is no specific timetable for the announcement, but all things considered, a decision could be made as soon as the end of the month.
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