- ABB FIA Formula E World Championship heads to Oregon for the inaugural Portland E-Prix
- ABB recently announced an investment of $170 million in the US, creating 450 jobs
- Technology solutions from ABB help support clean energy transition and EV adoption
This weekend, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to the US, but to the new race location of Portland, Oregon, for the 12th round of Season 9.
Twenty-two drivers will compete at the Portland International Raceway, a permanent 3.19 km circuit which is a familiar fixture for American motorsport series such as IndyCar. Thrilling wheel-to-wheel action is expected on the 12-turn track, which has a history of providing close battles.
The staging of the inaugural Portland E-Prix marks the sixth time that the series has raced in the US, fitting for title sponsor and official charging partner, ABB, given its continued investment in the country.
Karin Lepasoon, ABB’s Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, said: “Returning to the US, and to a new location, is perfect for ABB, as the country is our largest market by revenue. Being able to bring this platform for the showcasing and development of ground-breaking technology to such an important market, where we’ve invested more than $14 billion since 2010, is a great opportunity to help drive sustainable progress.”
Earlier this year, ABB announced a $170 million investment in the US, reflecting the increased demand for electrification and automation products. This includes the opening of a $100 million drives and services manufacturing facility in New Berlin, Wisconsin and the expansion of the company’s North American robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It will also lead to the creation of 450 new, highly skilled jobs in manufacturing, innovation and distribution operations to support the clean energy transition.
ABB supports the transition to a low-carbon society through a number of US projects, such as the alliance agreement recently signed with Bair Energy to develop a major green hydrogen complex. ABB will provide expertise on turnkey automation, electrification and digitalization solutions that support the optimization of low-cost green hydrogen production at the 1-Gigawatt Clear Fork, Texas facility. Phase one of the project will utilize renewable power to produce up to 33,000 kg of green hydrogen per day, with daily capacity designed to increase to 132,000 kg by 2028.
Driving EV adoption is another key focus for ABB in the US. It has installed several thousand fast chargers on public networks and at fleet and transit locations in the country to date. A recent milestone for the company was achieved when Circle K, a global leader in convenience and mobility, equipped its latest EV charging site in Wytheville, Virginia, with ABB E-mobility’s US-manufactured Terra 184 DC fast chargers. These “all-in-one” EV chargers were the first to roll off the production line at the company’s South Carolina manufacturing site.
ABB is also adding the North American Charging Standard (NACS) as an option for its products. Open standards and interoperability are foundational elements of a robust and scalable e-mobility economy. The company is continuing its commitment to global and regional standards (CCS, MCS, CHAdeMO, GB/T), and collaboration with its partners and the e-mobility industry, to deliver charging solutions that accelerate the electrification of transportation for all.
In line with ABB’s sustainability strategy 2030, ABB is not only working with customers to drive sustainable progress but is also looking at improvements in its own operations.
ABB’s Senatobia, Mississippi factory is the company’s first US facility to integrate technology that will achieve carbon-neutral manufacturing. The $1.5 million investment in operational advancements will enable ABB to increase the use of renewables and optimize energy storage, thereby reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and increasing cost savings. The site is equipped with a solar microgrid that uses renewables as a distributed energy resource in combination with an energy storage system. This allows backup power and sustainable energy usage from solar and battery during peak utility demand. The microgrid is monitored and controlled using systems integrated by the ABB Digital Systems Center.
Following the race in Portland, the Championship returns to Rome for two races on July 15 and 16. 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
For Formula E media enquiries, please contact - media@fiaformulae.com
