World's First Fully Electric Race Car Championship Debuts In Long Beach
LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — The race cars sped along the tracks but what was noticeably missing was the roar of the engines.
They flew by at 100+ mph and it was barely more than a whistle.
Fans in Long Beach Saturday bore witness to the inaugural ePrix, a racing series for Formula E cars. Formula E is the world's first fully electric racing series featuring single-seat, open-wheel cars that can reach up to 140 mph.
At high speeds, the cars are only slightly louder than an average street car.
Organizers say Formula E is the first sport to provide a framework for sustainable mobility and electric car research and development.
And star power is helping fuel this race.
Team owners include Michael Andretti, Sir Richard Branson and Leonardo di Caprio. Drivers include ex-Formula 1 pilots Nick Heidfeld, Nicolas Prost, Bruno Senna, Scott Speed, Sebastien Buemi and Nelson Piquet Jr.
Ten two-car teams compete in the championship, and all 20 cars are identical.
For more information about the Long Beach ePrix visit FIA Formula E online.