What is Formula E, and when are the races coming to the USA?

Formula 1 is growing in popularity in the United States, pushed along by Netflix series “Drive to Survive”, with three Grands Prix in the 2024 season taking place stateside, more than any other country. But what is the likelihood of Formula E, which started in 2014, following in its footsteps?

What are the main differences between Formula 1 and Formula E?

With ‘E’ standing for ‘electric,’ Formula E brands itself as “a battle for the future,” presumably a reference to the global drive for sustainability and to fight climate change.

While F1 cars have a petrol/electric hybrid engine, Formula E vehicles are all-electric, which impacts performance. The former are considerably more powerful that the latter, although Formula E cars can still hit speeds of up to 200mph (322kph), just shy of Formula 1′s top range (around 220mph / 354kph).

E-Prix normally take place on street circuits and are a lot shorter (less than 100km) compared to Grands Prix (around 305km). A shorter race obviously means less time is required, and the whole event - practice sessions, qualifying, race itself - actually takes place in a single day rather than across several.

Although there are differences between different teams’ cars, each of them uses the same chassis, which means there tends to be relatively close competition, which we haven’t always seen in Formula 1 over the years (Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing, we’re looking at you).

Criticisms of Formula E

Theories as to why Formula E hasn’t “made it big” yet are numerous, with some blaming poor marketing, others the lack of noise coming from the cars lessening the spectacle, and some the constant comparisons to Formula 1 cars, which are still faster.

However, technological developments could close that gap, and viewing and attendance figures for Formula E were up last season. Still, Nick Cassidy, the current World Championship for Drivers leader in Formula E, has some way to go to become household names like the vast majority of F1 drivers.

2024 E-Prix in the United States

There are two E-Prix on the calendar for the 2023/24 season which will take place in the United States, and they’re coming up soon.

The Portland E-Prix will be a double header, with two races held on back-to-back days at Portland International Raceway on 29 and 30 June.

Of the 16 races on the schedule this year, 12 follow that same format. There have been E-Prix in consecutive days in Saudi Arabia and Italy, with more to follow in Germany, China and the United Kingdom, as well as the US.