Nissan is the only mass-market OEM in Formula E. It’s also the only Japanese automaker in the series, and is committed to it through 2030.
It’s part of the company’s Ambition 2030. Nissan says its “mission is to achieve carbon neutrality and zero-emission vehicles by 2050, and to make electric vehicles accessible to everyone, everywhere.” Specifically, “by fiscal year 2030 aiming for an electrification mix of 55% globally.”
There really isn’t another large mainstream market auto manufacturer that has so closely aligned its motorsports program with its strategic vision.
In 2018, Nissan entered Formula E as a partnership with an established team. In 2022, it then bought that team and has operated as a factory-backed program ever since. With the team purchase, Nissan has committed to the race series through 2030 as part of its Ambition 2030 program.
Nissan has continually moved up the grid in Formula E as the seasons pass. As a manufacturer, Nissan was seventh in 2023 and just finished third in 2024. Nissan NISMO Formula E Team Principal Tommaso Volpe told me that the goal is to fight for the overall championship in 2025.
As a manufacturer, Nissan has developed its own drivetrain system. This includes an inverter, motor, trans, regen system, and software. This is the second year using the same hardware system (mandated by the Formula E rules), but the team has seen big gains from its software development.
This system is used not only in the Nissan NISMO Formula E team but also in the NEOM McLaren Formula E team. This allows for data collection from four cars on the grid, two per team, something that is common across Formula E.
I sat down with Nissan NISMO Formula E Team Principal Tommaso Volpe at the 2024 U.S. race in Portland, Ore. He explained to me that Nissan is in Formula E for three very specific reasons:
To become experts in electrification
To show that electric vehicles are exciting
Knowledge transfer for future road cars, to make them both exciting and efficient
The first two points are easy to understand and see with Nissan’s involvement in this race series. The third is harder to see, at least for now.
Formula E Tech in Your Nissan
Nissan consumer activation at the 2024 Portland e-Prix;Photo byBryon Dorr
In the early days of Nissan’s involvement in Formula E, a full 7 years ago, there was a lot of knowledge transfer to the race program from its experience in electrified road cars. Volpe explained that road-to-track was how it started, and just recently, we’re starting to see track-to-road knowledge transfer.
But, no transfer of hardware from Nissan’s Formula E race program has yet made it to a production road car. While Volpe knows this will likely change in the next few years, for now it is just software that has made it from racecar to road car. This is not all that surprising, as new production car development cycles take many years, while software can be updated regularly with over-the-air updates on most modern cars.
LEAF NISMO RC electric race car gave some VIP guests rides around PIR;Photo byBryon Dorr
Interesting Facts About Formula E
While I had a great time at Formula E’s only U.S. stop in 2024 in Portland, Ore., I also learned a bunch of interesting tidbits about the race series. There is a lot going on in this electrified racing, and you have to dive pretty deep to really get your head wrapped around much of it.
A rear 350 kW motor can send up to 470 horsepower to the rear wheels.
A front 250 kW motor is just for regen (does not drive the vehicle).
In 2025 AWD will be used, but only at certain times.
2024 Formula E race cars have a 41 kWh battery. In comparison, the Nissan Ariya has either a 67 kwH or an 87 kWh battery.
2024 Formula E cars start each race with only about 60% of the power needed to complete a race, and don’t pit. The other 40% of energy needed to reach the finish line is created through the regen system.
(A big thanks to Nissan for hosting me at this year’s U.S. E-Prix. I very much look forward to following along as Formula E develops, and we start to see electric racing tech make its way into electrified road cars.)
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