FIA Renews Partnership With EDF

PARIS – The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile has announced the renewal of its partnership with EDF as an official technical supplier.

The two-year extension runs through 2020, pushing the total length of the partnership between the two sides to seven years by the end of the next deal.

As a leader on research issues surrounding electric vehicles, batteries and charging systems, EDF will continue its work with the FIA on research and audit tests of propulsion, charging, and safety in motorsports.

That work is currently aimed at the FIA ​​Formula E Championship, FIA World Endurance Championship and other FIA-sanctioned categories.

FIA and EDF experts will continue to share information and best practices on the training of emergency personnel, electric vehicle safety standards, and the assessment of batteries on EDF’s state-of-the-art test bench, which is capable of testing very powerful batteries.

“Since its beginning in 2014, this partnership has resulted in significant progress on the application of emerging technologies to battery units, engines, charging systems, safety standards and regulations, as well as infrastructure," said FIA Technical Director Gilles Simon. “The FIA wishes to continue this development with EDF, in order to explore these new technologies even further."

“The extension of this agreement between EDF and the FIA will allow us to build on the important progress that we have made over the last three years," added Bernard Salha, Senior Executive Vice President Head of Research & Development at EDF. “Being involved in research and development at the highest level of motorsport enables us to contribute to the emergence of the most innovative technologies. This is key for us at a time when new uses of electric energy are being developed.

“These innovations will significantly influence the development of electric mobility on the consumer market."