The new Formula E car which will be raced in the 2018-19 season has run for the first time.

The DS E-tense FE 19 performed a demonstration run near the DS Performance factory in Versailles, France. The first official test of the new cars will take place next week.

DS Performance diretcor Xavier Mestelan-Pinon said: “It was great to see the DS E-tense FE 19 run at our track in Satory.”

“The car’s different assemblies had previously been tested on the bench but this is the first time the fully assembled car has turned a wheel. Starting it was a rewarding moment for the team’s technical staff. It’s an occasion you never forget.”

Formula E has upgraded the performance and battery life of its 2018-19 car with the goal of making the cars quicker while also doing away with the mandatory mid-race car swaps which have been a feature of races in its first four seasons. The new car has a 250kW power unit and 54kWh battery.

Formula E