The FIA has published the tender for the next generation of Formula E chassis.

As revealed in our March 2016 magazine, the electric motorsport will continue to use its current chassis until season five (2018-19), when it will be replaced with cars capable of running the entire race distance. The sport will retain the use of a common chassis, with a single car per driver from season five and with the new version due to see service until season seven (20-21) or eight (21-22).

We understand that Renault and Spark are both looking at submitting proposals.

There are some intriguing points in the new tender. Our highlights are:

“Formula E is seeking a futuristic body work design” (pg18; pictures of concept racing cars from McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari are included as inspiration)

“The main target is to achieve a reduction of weight compared with today’s cars in order to maintain the same car weight while including a battery pack which would make the car around 40 kg heavier. The current battery pack including the structural box weighs 350kg” (pg19)

“FIA safety package: Based on the 2015 Formula One Regulations including but not limited to: low nose, new cockpit rim, zylon panels, wheel tethers, cockpit pads, lateral impact absorbers (extra ones at battery level should be considered)” (pg19)

“Dimensions of the battery compartment: 320 litre (usable capacity); estimated battery weight: 330 kg (excluding safety cell)” (pg20)

“The main objectives are to create a futuristic look and achieve aero efficiency: we are seeking to optimize drag with no extra downforce. Since this is a single provider environment, the technical regulations do not need to be accounted for in the bodywork design. A new partial bodywork kit will need to be provided without any extra development cost for the third season of the contract; the aim of this kit will be for the design only and not to increase performance. Drag target (sCx) : 0.65 (currently 0.75)” (pg19)

“An electrical bias balance system to balance front and rear braking must be proposed. The bidder needs to ensure that cooling and heating control of the brakes links to the electric braking.” (pg21)

“We are not in favour of power steering systems.” (pg 22)

The timeline set out in the tender document is:

March 2016: publishing of the FIA call for tenders

8 June 8 2016: deadline for submission of bidders’ dossiers deliver to the FIA

24 June 2016: FIA selection decision announced

September 2016: tyre data delivered to the supplier

tbc: delivery of CAD files to manufacturers (interface + suspension data)

tbc: suspension data

tbc: CFD data

tbc: wind tunnel data

February 2017: car manufacturer registration deadline

June 2017: chassis provider crash test

1 Oct 2017: first chassis available for each manufacturer (test car)

January 2018: car manufacturer homologation process

April 2018: crash test manufacturer deadline

1 June 2018: race chassis available to teams

June 2018: car homologated

August 2018: collective pre-season test

September 2018: first race season five

Read the FIA Formula E chassis tender 2016 here.