In little more than a decade, Formula E cars have gone from machines that could not finish a race on a single charge, so drivers had to swap cars halfway through, to 600 kW all-wheel-drive cars that sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 1.8 seconds. Four generations, from the 2014 Gen1 to the Gen4 debuting in the 2026-27 season, tell the story of the fastest evolution in modern motorsport.

Updated September 2026.

Formula E was born in 2014 as the first championship for fully electric single-seaters, and since 2020 it has held FIA World Championship status. From the start it built its identity around technology: every new generation of car has delivered a leap in performance and efficiency that, in other series, would have taken decades. To understand why the championship attracts so many manufacturers and sponsors, this is the place to start.

Gen1 (2014-2018): proof that it could be done

The first generation, on track from the inaugural 2014-15 season until 2017-18, was a relatively simple single-seater designed to prove that electric racing was possible. Its most obvious limit was range: the battery could not cover the full race distance, so halfway through drivers pitted and jumped into a second, fully charged car.

From the second season, however, the rules opened up: manufacturers could design their own motors and transmissions, and real technical competition began. Over the Gen1 era race power rose step by step, and the championship started to attract car makers.

Gen2 (2018-2022): one race, one car

The Gen2, introduced in the 2018-19 season, changed the championship with a single innovation: a battery with almost twice the usable energy, which made it possible to run the whole race in one car. Goodbye to the mid-race car swap, and with it to one of the quirkiest differences from other series, as we explain in our comparison of Formula E and Formula 1.

The Gen2 also brought a more aggressive look, the halo to protect the driver and Attack Mode, which grants extra power for a limited time to drivers who pass through an activation zone off the racing line. A way to make races less predictable and more spectacular.

Gen3 (2023-2024): lighter, faster, more efficient

The Gen3 made its debut in January 2023, in season nine, and was presented as the most efficient electric race car ever built. Lighter and more compact than the Gen2, it reaches around 322 km/h, with 350 kW of peak power and 300 kW in race mode. The real novelty was on the front axle: a second motor dedicated to energy recovery which, together with the rear motor, allows up to 600 kW to be regenerated under braking. According to Formula E, around 40% of the energy used in a race is recovered through braking, so much so that the Gen3 has no rear hydraulic brakes.

Sustainability also took a step forward: carbon fibre parts recycled from the Gen2, natural materials such as flax in the bodywork, tyres recycled after every race and batteries designed for a second life.

Gen3 Evo (2024-2026): the first all-wheel drive

From season 11 the car evolved into the Gen3 Evo, the first all-wheel-drive Formula E car, active at race starts, in qualifying duels and in Attack Mode. The result is staggering acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 1.82 seconds, which Formula E says is 30% quicker than a current Formula 1 car.

Gen4 (from 2026-27): 600 kW and permanent all-wheel drive

The Gen4 debuts in the 2026-27 season and will stay on track until 2030. It is the biggest leap in the championship’s history: 450 kW in race configuration, 600 kW, around 815 horsepower, in Attack Mode and qualifying, all-wheel drive active in every phase of the race, 0-100 km/h in 1.8 seconds and a top speed above 205 mph. Formula E estimates it will be at least five seconds a lap faster than the Gen3 Evo on street circuits.

Why the evolution of the cars matters to brands

For a company, Formula E’s technology story is a tangible asset. Every generation has brought innovations that are easy to communicate, from energy regeneration to all-wheel drive, and a growing audience: according to the championship, by the end of season 11 its fan base had reached 422 million people. For technology, energy, mobility and sustainability brands, linking up with a series that changes this fast means associating their name with innovation, not with a static image.

The current season’s schedule is in our Formula E 2025/2026 calendar. To understand how to build a partnership in this championship, read our in-depth guide to Formula E sponsorship.

Sources: Formula E, the history of its race cars from Gen1 to Gen4; Formula E, the Gen3 explained; Formula E, the Gen3 Evo; Formula E, the Gen4; Formula E, the season 11 fan base.