ABB Formula E: Cutting-edge e-mobility technology soars in Mexico

This weekend, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Mexico – for the first time at the Autodromo Miguel E. Abed, just outside the colorful city of Puebla. The event will follow strict COVID-19 protocols, created under guidance from the relevant authorities, to enable it to take place in a safe and responsible manner.

One of Mexico’s premier racing circuits, the Autodromo Miguel E. Abed has previously hosted the NASCAR Mexico series and the FIA World Touring Car Championship and is set against the stunning backdrop of the Popocatepetl Volcano. The 15-turn, 2.98km track features hairpins, sweeping fast corners and a long start-finish straight, sure to suit the close wheel-to-wheel racing for which Formula E is known.

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Theodor Swedjemark, ABB’s Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, said: “ABB Formula E is a showcase for the new era of sustainable development. It is an extreme testbed for collaborative innovation, which will drive progress to help countries such as Mexico to meet their e-mobility and sustainability goals.”

In 2020, Mexico reaffirmed its commitment to reduce greenhouse gases by 22 percent and black carbon emissions by 51 percent by 2030. ABB technology is enabling a number of projects aimed at improving the air quality in the country.

“The return of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to Mexico once again gives us the opportunity to highlight the great advances in energy management and efficiency that ABB is facilitating across the country’s industries,” added Vicente Magaña, Country Managing Director, ABB. “One such example is the Volvo electric bus pilot project, powered by charging infrastructure from ABB, which marks an important step towards achieving sustainable public transport solutions.”

The project which serves the streets of Mexico City is a collaboration between Metrobus, Volvo Buses Mexico, ABB Mexico and Downtown-Airport Connection (Conexión Centro Aeropuerto, CCA), together with Mexico City’s authorities. ABB’s Terra 54 HV technology allows charging overnight in less than four hours, meaning it can operate throughout the day without interruption, resulting in zero-emission trips. This will lead to cuts in CO₂ emissions by 92 percent and a reduction of 20.45 tons of total emissions within the current fleet. In addition, it can be monitored remotely, with 24/7 service, through a digital platform, managing power and recording valuable information for fleet operation.

ABB Mexico is also collaborating in the development of the Horizontal Teleferic (line 1) in Mexico City, providing low and medium voltage products and panels for the project. This fully electric mode of transportation will reduce travel times by 50 percent and will considerably reduce CO₂ emissions by 3,100 tons.

Emission reduction has also been facilitated though ABB’s engineering and manufacturing complex in San Luis Potosí – the first industrial plant to generate its own energy in all of Mexico. This project was recognized as the best renewable energy project in the framework MIREC 2012. The plant consists of two photovoltaic generation blocks that add up to approximately 1.2MW. The installation covers around 70 percent of the energy consumed on campus and has cut CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere by approximately 1,700 tons per year.

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ABB began its operations in Mexico 60 years ago and today has around 4,500 employees in five production, engineering, service, research and development centers and a Global Business Center that serves Latin America from San Luis Potosí.

ABB is the title partner in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, an international racing series for fully electric single-seater racecars. Its technology supports the events at city-street tracks around the globe. ABB entered the eMobility market back in 2010, and today has sold more than 400,000 electric vehicle chargers across more than 85 markets; more than 20,000 DC fast chargers and 380,000 AC chargers, including those sold through Chargedot.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com

2021 ABB FIA Formula E Championship – Calendar (races confirmed to date)