ABB Formula E Showcased E-Mobility Excellence on World Earth Day

April 26, 2023

• ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Tempelhof airport for rounds 7 and 8 of Season 9
• ABB B&R technology helps accelerate EV adoption by reducing cost and improving performance of batteries
• ABB E-mobility to supply charging infrastructure for the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin in June

Recently, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returned to race at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport, in Europe’s largest EV market.

The 10-turn, 2.355km circuit is a unique stop on the calendar, where the drivers take on the highly-abrasive concrete apron of the historic airport as opposed to the asphalt of street circuits. The resulting tire wear and the need for careful energy management are sure to result in two action-packed races on the flowing circuit.

Daniela Lužanin, Head of the ABB Formula E partnership, said: “We’re looking forward to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returning to one of ABB’s biggest markets. It is great that the race coincides with World Earth Day this year, the organizers of which, like Formula E and ABB, are working to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable future, in part, through the increased adoption of EVs.”

Daniela Lužanin, Head of the ABB Formula E partnership

ABB and Formula E

ABB plays a key role in Germany’s automotive sector, providing robotics and automation solutions and helping to establish the country’s EV charging infrastructure. For consumers around the world considering an electric vehicle, the decision is heavily influenced by two factors: price and range. That makes production of batteries especially critical, as they account for around a third of EV cost and their quality directly impacts the distance travelled per charge.

Throughout the assembly of battery cells and packs, ABB helps automotive manufacturers meet critical quality requirements and minimize production costs to make EVs more affordable. For example, the x-ray inspection units from German company Exacom scan 175 cells every minute by moving them individually at high speeds using the ACOPOStrak transport system from ABB’s Machine Automation Division (B&R). In addition to more gentle handling than conventional conveyors, ACOPOStrak shuttles offer exceptionally fast acceleration and deceleration, which speeds up positioning and increases throughput.

When it comes to the charging infrastructure required to charge these EVs, ABB has been at the forefront of implementation in Germany with 3,519 DC chargers installed across the country, 129 of which are in Berlin. ABB is also one of 20 companies working on the HoLa high-performance charging project, funded by the German government. It is the world’s first megawatt charging project for HGVS, helping to facilitate zero-emission road haulage.

ABB’s Social and Environmental Contributions

Following the Formula E double-header, the next sporting highlight is due to arrive in the German capital in June. From June 17-25, the Special Olympics World Games will take place in Berlin. For the first time, Germany will host the world’s largest inclusive sporting event, where thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities will demonstrate their skills in 26 sporting categories. ABB has been a partner of the German Special Olympics organization for more than 20 years. Among others, ABB employees will once again be providing support as volunteers at the sports venues. In addition, ABB E-mobility will supply and manage the charging infrastructure for the more than 60 electric shuttles that will be used during the Games.

ABB is also driving progress in the electrification of rail transportation. ABB is working with Swiss-based rail vehicle manufacturer, Stadler, to enable energy efficient and sustainable transportation for operator Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). ABB’s latest generation of traction converters are being installed on more than 600 underground cars in the German capital. Replacing the 30-year-old fleet with modern vehicles, equipped with customized ABB technology, meets the need for a more reliable and efficient service while helping to accommodate growing passenger numbers.

In 2022, ABB acquired the PowerTech Converter (PTC) business, a leading supplier of auxiliary power converter solutions for light rail vehicles and metros headquartered in Berlin. These solutions supply the power needed for vital systems that improve passenger comfort, such as the HVAC system, lighting, safety equipment, doors, as well as charging of the vehicle’s batteries. The combination of these complementary offerings now allows ABB to innovate and develop more energy-efficient solutions.

Following the double-header in Berlin, the series will travel to the legendary Monaco street circuit on May 6^th. The season 9 calendar features 16 races in 11 global locations.

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