Formula E cars are now faster than ever before, thanks to the brand-new Gen3 cars that were introduced for the 2023 season.
In this post, I take a look at the question ‘How Fast Is A Formula E Car?’, compare the new Gen3 cars to the old Gen2 cars, and also compare Formula E to F1, F2 & IndyCar.
How Fast Is A Formula E Car?
The new Gen3 Formula E cars can reach speeds of up to 200 mph (320 kmh), and boast a huge 470 BHP.
This a huge improvement from the Gen2 era (2018 – 2022) cars, which only reached speeds of up to 174 mph (280 kmh) and carried 335 BHP.
The Gen3 cars don’t just eclipse the Gen2 cars on speed either, as the new Gen3 cars are even more sustainable than their predecessor, capable of recovering over 40% of their energy used (as opposed to 25% in Gen2).
| Gen2 | Gen3 | |
| Top Speed | 174 mph (280 kmh) | 200 mph (320 kmh) |
| BHP | 335 BHP | 470 BHP |
| Energy Recovery | 25% | 40% |
You can find a full Gen2 vs Gen3 comparison table below.
Formula E Cars 0-60
With the Gen3 season only just beginning, there are no stats on 0-60 speed as of yet, but the Gen2 cars could reach 0-60 in just 2.8 seconds.
For comparison, a Formula One car can go from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds.
Formula E Cars BHP
The total BHP of a Gen3 (2023 & beyond) car is 445 BHP, which is a jump from 335 BHP compared to the Gen2 era Formula E car.
Formula E Car Weight
The Gen3 Formula E car’s minimum weight is set at 840 kg, which is slightly higher than Formula One cars, which have a minimum weight of 798kg.
Formula E Gen3 Compared To Gen2 Stats
| Gen2 | Gen3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 5200mm | 5016.2mm |
| Overall height | 1063.5mm | 1023.4mm |
| Overall width | 1800mm | 1700mm |
| Wheelbase | 3100mm | 2970.5mm |
| Minimum weight (incl. driver) | 900kg | 840kg |
| Maximum power | 250kW (335bhp) | 350kW (470bhp) |
| Maximum regeneration | 250kW | 600kW |
| Energy recovery | Approx 25% | Over 40% |
| Top speed | 280kmh / 174mph | 320kmh / 200mph |
| Powertrain | Rear only | Front & rear |
Formula E Compared To Other Race Series
Below we break down the key metrics of a Formula E car and compare it against Formula One, Formula Two & IndyCar.
Formula E vs F1
| Formula E (Gen3) | Formula 1 | |
| Top Speed (MPH) | 200 mph | 218.5 mph* |
| Top Speed (KMH) | (320 kmh) | 351.6 kmh |
| BHP | 470 BHP | 1050 BHP |
*This top speed was set by Kevin Magnussen in qualifying for the 2022 Mexico City Grand Prix.
Formula E vs F2 (Formula 2)
| Formula E (Gen3) | Formula 2 | |
| Top Speed (MPH) | 200 mph | 208 mph |
| Top Speed (KMH) | (320 kmh) | 335 kmh |
| BHP | 470 BHP | 620 BHP |
Formula E vs IndyCar
| Formula E (Gen3) | IndyCar | |
| Top Speed (MPH) | 200 mph | 235 mph |
| Top Speed (KMH) | (320 kmh) | 378 kmh |
| BHP | 470 BHP | 600 – 750 BHP |
Do Formula E Cars Have Gears?
Another factor in speed is the optimal use of changing gears during a race. Electric cars don’t usually need gears but Formula E cars do have transmissions to help optimise the performance of the battery and to add an extra competitive factor within the race.
Is A Tesla Faster Than A Formula E Car?
The Tesla Model S had a top speed of 200 mph, which is the same speed as the new Gen3 Formula E car. The Model S also has an impressive 0-60 of 2.4 seconds, which is faster than a Formula E car.
