Schaeffler and Audi are set to remain ‘a formidable Formula E team’ in the future, following an agreement that has seen them already begin joint development work on the Audi e-tron FE07 for the competition’s seventh season (starting in autumn 2020).

Matthias Zink, CEO of Automotive OEM at Schaeffler, said: “Schaeffler, Audi and Formula E are a combination that was
perfect from the very start.

As a company, our intention is to use our drive train and chassis technologies to shape sustainable mobility. Formula E is an ideal platform on which to present these ideas for future electric mobility and measure our performance in a competition of the highest calibre.”

Initially a partner to the private ABT Sportsline team (for the first three years), Schaeffler has been developing drive trains for Formula E together with Audi since it joined the series as a factory team in the autumn of 2017 (www.audi.com).

The combination of engine, transmission, inverter and software represents the core of the vehicle, which in all other aspects is identical for all teams.

In the future, Schaeffler will continue its involvement as a technology and development partner, primarily in fields such as transmission, ‘engine’ and drive concept development, as well as by providing support in test rig-based work and prototype construction — plus bearing development and production.

Jochen Schröder, head of Schaeffler’s E-Mobility business division (www.schaeffler.com), said: “Formula E gives us a wealth of expertise, which we then transfer from the race track to our development departments.

“The relevance of this expertise in the fields of comprehensive drive systems, electric motors, power electronics and transmissions is already demonstrated by the electric axle drives that we have been producing for the Audi e-tron since 2018.

“This expertise is also being integrated into electric drive systems and components for the future that are currently in volume production development at Schaeffler.”