- New ABB Driver of Progress award launched to reward intelligent and efficient racing
- ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Monaco for Round 9 of the season
- ABB technology improving energy efficiency in Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum
ABB and Formula E have today launched a new award for the driver who makes up the most positions during an E-Prix – The ABB Driver of Progress Award.
Climbing through the field in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship requires a careful balance of speed, overtaking skill and energy management, for a driver to be in a position to earn more points without over-consuming energy. The driver who best uses these skills and gains the most places during a race will be named as the ABB Driver of Progress. The positions gained per driver will also be added together over the course of a season to produce an overall winner of the award.
The annoucement comes as the Championship returns to Monte Carlo. The 19-turn, 3.3km circuit, with its steep hill and high-speed sections, will put the field’s energy management skills to the test.
Daniela Lužanin, Head of the ABB Formula E partnership, said: “We are proud to launch this new award ahead of this weekend’s Monaco E-Prix, furthering our partnership with Formula E. At ABB, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of technology to drive sustainable progress off-track. So, it’s fitting for us, as a global technology leader, to reward the drivers making the most progress on-track.”
Alberto Longo, Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Formula E, added: “Progressing through the field is not an easy task in Formula E so it’s great that we could work with our partner, ABB, to develop a new way to highlight the drivers who excel in this area. The ABB Driver of Progress Award will recognize the competitor who proves they lead the way when it comes to Formula E’s unique demand for intelligent, efficient and dynamic driving.”
Mastering energy management and maximizing energy efficiency are vital driver skills, particularly when they’re faced with the challenge of progressing through the pack. The same qualities underpin ABB’s commitment to creating a more sustainable future, as seen in the Championship, where ABB Ability™ OPTIMAX® energy management software is helping to deliver more efficient energy use at
all E-Prix.
This drive to improve energy efficiency is also seen in ABB’s collaboration with the Grimaldi Forum, where it was the partner of choice for the complete overhaul and modernization of the event venue’s electrical systems. Inaugurated in 1997, this prestigious 75,000m2 convention and international cultural center integrates more than 13 main distribution boards and 700 sub-distribution boards, all equipped with ABB low voltage devices. ABB supplied the transformers and medium voltage cells, in addition to modifying the automation of the generators. ABB was able to complete the work while always maintaining power, which was essential for the Grimaldi Forum team as the venue holds more than 100 events per year, welcoming more than 250,000 visitors.
As part of ongoing sustainability efforts, a large number of electric buses have been integrated into fleets on the Côte d’Azur. To support this electrification project, ABB E-mobility has supplied around 150 Terra DC chargers for overnight charging at the depot and installed 15 pantographs at bus terminals allowing for fast opportunity charging in just 5 to 6 minutes. This innovative solution not only reduces the need for larger battery packs on board but also increases the passenger capacity of the bus.
Following the race in Monaco, the series will return to Jakarta for a double-header on the 3rd and 4th of June. The season 9 calendar comprises 16 races in 11 global locations.
ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com
About Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship:
As the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship and the only sport certified net zero carbon since inception, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings dramatic racing to the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities providing an elite motorsport platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers to accelerate electric vehicle innovation.
The Formula E network of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters, and host cities are united by a passion for the sport and belief in its potential to accelerate sustainable human progress and create a better future for people and planet. www.FIAFormulaE.com
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