Last updated on .From the section Motorsport

France's Jean-Eric Vergne is the reigning Formula E champion, after securing the title in New York in July

The BBC will show coverage of every ABB FIA Formula E Championship race from December.

Races for the series will be featured live on the BBC Sport website, BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button.

Formula E, which launched in 2014, features fully electric single-seater cars racing street circuits around the world.

The opening race of the fifth season takes place at the Ad Diriyah E-Prix in Saudi Arabia on December 15.

Ali Russell, media and business development director at Formula E, said it was "imperative" the racing series remained on a free-to-air network in a "key" market for the sport.

"What better place to showcase some of the best and most competitive racing than on the BBC," he said.

"We're fully-charged and ready for the new season on the streets of the most recognisable cities - and this year promises to be more intense and unpredictable than ever."

Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, said: "It's great news that live motorsport is returning to our screens at the BBC. I've no doubt the upcoming season will bring with it some exciting wheel-to-wheel moments and we can't wait for it to begin."

The Formula E Championship, which consists of 11 teams and 22 drivers, takes place in 12 cities over a seven-month race calendar.