The first all-electric auto racing series kicks off next year, and if you've never been interested in open-wheel racing, Formula E stands to be more entertaining than F1 and more spectator-friendly than WRC, and the pit stops don't just involve swapping tires or batteries, but switching cars.

Formula E is not only the first EV racing series, but it has the backing of the biggest organizing body in motorsport, the FIA. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is the same group behind Formula 1, the World Rally Championship, the World Touring Car Championship, and the World Endurance Championship, which governs everything from the 6 Hours of Spa to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And the FIA is putting its considerable weight into making Formula E the next great evolution in racing.

The series kicks off in September of 2014 and runs through June of 2015, with 10 teams running through the streets of 10 of the world's most iconic cities. The schedule is set to include London, Berlin, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Beijing, Bangkok, and Purtrajaya, as well as stateside races in Los Angeles and Miami. But more impressive than the teams competing on street courses – something sorely lacking in modern racing – are the cars.

The race is being run as an "open championship" which means each manufacturer and constructor can develop the electric drivetrain anyway they see fit, as long as it conforms to the FIA's technical specifications. This is a massive departure from most motorsport, including F1, where each team is required to run the same engine, with the same displacement and same technology. There are some limitations when it comes to the hardware and software in Formula E, but how the systems handle output and power preservation are completely open, which the FIA hopes will spur electric drivetrain innovation.

Image: Andretti Autosport

So far, three teams have signed on to compete next year, including Drayson Racing (which has set a series of EV speed records), China Racing (which ran in the now defunct A1GP), and Andretti Autosport (you know the name). But the first car to be homologated by the FIA comes from a joint venture between Renault and Spark Racing Technology.

The Spark-Renault SRT_01E tips the scales at an FIA-mandated 800 kilograms (1,793 pounds) – including the 441 pounds worth of lithium-ion batteries – with a combination of aluminum and carbon fiber making up the body and underpinnings. The chassis is made by Dallara, the same outfit behind IndyCar, and is designed to make overtaking easier, ratcheting up the excitement. Along with a sequential gearbox with fixed ratios, the chassis is designed to be cost effective for teams to run, while the double steel wishbone suspension has a higher ride height than traditional open-wheeled racers to allow the teams to handle the rough roads of city circuits.

The electric drivetrain and corresponding electronics are supplied by McLaren, while the Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS = batteries) come from Williams Advanced Engineering – two companies with serious racing cred.

The motor is good for a maximum output of 200 kW (270 horsepower), but that power is only allowed to be used continuously during practice and qualifying. During the race, the cars are forced into a power-saving mode of 133 kW (180 hp), but drivers can apply a "Push-to-Pass" system that boosts the electric motor to its maximum output for a limited period of time. The FIA estimates that in full 270-hp mode with the race-specific treaded Michelin tires a Formula E racer can go from 0-60 MPH in three seconds, while the top speed is limited to a rather anemic 140 MPH. The pace is expected to be on par with races like F2000 or Formula Mazda, and yes, traction control isn't allowed.

But the two biggest questions about Formula E is how the teams plan to recharge and what the cars will sound like at full tilt.

The FIA says that races will run approximately one hour, with each driver making two mandatory pitstops to change cars. During the downtime, the cars will be charged (although it's unclear how), and unless there's a puncture, tire changes aren't allowed.

As for sound, the cars will actually be louder than the average road car. With tire, motor, and aero noise, the SRT_01E clocks in at 80 decibels at high speed, with your minivan running at about 70 dB and an F1 car shrieking to 150 dB. Additionally, an artificial tone developed by a sound designer will be required when the cars enter the pits to keep mechanics and marshals safe.

So what's the future of racing sound like? Check the video below, and start getting excited for 2014.

Images and videos courtesy of Formula E/FIA