After seven seasons in Formula E, BMW has decided to join the likes of Audi and pull out of the sport at the end of the coming season. The Bavarian carmaker has enjoyed both victories as well as multiple podiums courtesy of the BMW i Andretti Motorsport team.
Yet, the BMW Group felt that when it comes to the development of e-drivetrains, it has “exhausted the opportunities for this form of technology transfer in the competitive environment of Formula E.”
Going forward, BMW is shifting its strategic focus within the field of e-mobility, putting a greater emphasis on the comprehensive scaling of EVs. The BMW Group wants to put one million electrified vehicles on the roads by the end of next year, increasing that figure to seven million by 2030 – of which two-thirds will be fully electric.
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At the same time, BMW definitely benefited from the time it spent in Formula E, because the same engineers that develop drivetrains for mass-production EVs are also responsible for the drivetrains that compete on the race track.
For example, the carmaker underwent a successful transfer of technology that included new findings regarding energy management and energy efficiency, as well as the transfer of software for power electronics from racing to production and an improvement in the power density of its e-motors.
Since its debut in Formula E, BMW i Andretti Motorsport amassed four victories, four pole positions and a total of nine podiums in 24 races.
