Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International
  • News
    • A-F
      • Battery Technology
      • Buses & Commercial Vehicles
      • Charging Technology
      • Concept Vehicle
      • Electrification Strategies
      • Fuel-cell Technology
    • G-K
      • Hybrid Powertrain
      • Hybrid/electric Architecture
      • ICE Hybrids
      • Industry News
      • Joint Ventures
    • L-Q
      • Manufacturing
      • Materials Research
      • Motor Technology
      • Motorsport Electrification
      • NVH
      • OEM News
      • Powertrain Components
      • Pure-electric Powertrain
    • R-Z
      • Range Extender
      • Solid-state Battery Technology
      • Testing
      • Transmissions
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    • March 2025
    • November/December 2024
    • July 2024
    • March 2024
    • November 2023
    • July 2023
    • March 2023
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Technical Articles
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Webinars
  • Events
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to Magazine SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL NEWSLETTER MEDIA PACK
LinkedIn
Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International
  • News
      • Battery Technology
      • Buses & Commercial Vehicles
      • Charging Technology
      • Concept Vehicle
      • Electrification Strategies
      • Fuel-cell Technology
      • Hybrid Powertrain
      • Hybrid/electric Architecture
      • ICE Hybrids
      • Industry News
      • Joint Ventures
      • Manufacturing
      • Materials Research
      • Motor Technology
      • Motorsport Electrification
      • NVH
      • OEM News
      • Powertrain Components
      • Pure-electric Powertrain
      • Range Extender
      • Solid-state Battery Technology
      • Testing
      • Transmissions
  • Features
  • Online Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. November/December 2024
    3. July 2024
    4. March 2024
    5. November 2023
    6. July 2023
    7. March 2023
    8. November 2022
    9. July 2022
    10. Archive Issues
    11. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    March 24, 2025

    New issue available now! March 2025

    News By Web Team
    Recent

    New issue available now! March 2025

    March 24, 2025

    New issue available now! November/December 2024

    December 2, 2024

    In this issue – July 2024

    July 19, 2024
  • Technical Articles
  • Opinion
  • Videos
  • Supplier Spotlight
  • Webinars
  • Events
LinkedIn
Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International
Motorsport Electrification

Electric Mini Formula E safety car makes its debut

James BillingtonBy James BillingtonApril 15, 20213 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Formula E Mini

The BMW Group has been closely linked with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since the very first race around seven years ago. It has had its i8 cars used as safety vehicles but has now unveiled a new Mini Pacesetter electric safety car.

Making its debut at the Formula E Rome e-prix, the fully electric car, which is based on the Mini JCW, was designed by BMW Motorsport such that racing technology makes it perfectly suited to the special requirements of a FIA Formula E safety car.

Formula E Mini

BMW Motorsport did not convert an existing road vehicle into the FIA Formula E Safety Car. Instead, the engineers used the new MINI Cooper SE as a basis to design a totally new safety car.

“We approached the project both in terms of safety and handling as if we were building a racing car, and started with the body in white of the MINI Cooper SE,” described Rudolf Dittrich, head of vehicle development at BMW Motorsport. “The result is a car that sets standards in braking power, cornering performance and agility. And it is precisely these areas that are crucial on the narrow street circuits in Formula E.”

To meet the specific requirements of a safety car it yields 135 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque. This sees the Mini Electric Pacesetter sprint from 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds.

The brakes are largely identical in construction to those of the Mini John Cooper Works GP. For the chassis, the basic concept was adopted from production; however, numerous components (for example, the spring damper system) were replaced with motorsport elements. A totally new feature is the Kevlar underride guard familiar from rallying, and which primarily protects the battery of the Mini Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW when driving roughly over kerbs. The size, profile and rubber compound of the tires have also been modified for use as a safety car.

Through the consistent use of carbon and CFRP in the construction of the specific bodywork modifications, some of which were even produced using 3D printing, the BMW Motorsport engineers were able to achieve a weight reduction of around 130 kg compared with the production model, and thus an unladen weight of around 1,230 kg. The safety car contains all the modules required by the FIA for passive safety.

“The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the top electric racing series as well as an efficient way to promote urban sustainable mobility,” said FIA president Jean Todt. “The new Official Safety Car – the MINI Electric Pacesetter – is a case in point. As safety is one of the FIA’s top priorities, we’ve collaborated with BMW Group and Formula E to develop a car model to play this key role.

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleVinFast partners with NVIDIA to power its artificially intelligent, self-driving electric cars
Next Article Hyundai partners with Uber to encourage drivers to adopt electric vehicles
James Billington

Related Posts

Motorsport Electrification

McMurtry’s fan-powered hypercar breaks physics and track records

April 15, 20252 Mins Read
Motorsport Electrification

GM aims for 2026 grid with new F1 power unit division

January 13, 20252 Mins Read
Motorsport Electrification

Alpine reveals hydrogen-powered Alpenglow Hy6 concept car

October 15, 20242 Mins Read
Latest Posts

The right laser optic for every weld

May 22, 2025

Tesla loses European market lead to BYD amid shifting EV landscape

May 22, 2025

BMW and Solid Power achieve milestone with first ASSB road test

May 20, 2025
Our Social Channels
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Free Email Newsletters
  • Meet the Editors
  • Contact Us
  • Media Pack
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Thursday


© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.