Formula E: Testing stopped by battery explosion (2nd Update)

The FIA has revealed further details about the Formula E battery fire in Valencia this week, which occurred in the DS Penske of Robert Shwartzman.

The automatic battery safety system was triggered in the car causing it to stop with the red light visible as per safety protocol, before it was taken back to the pits, where the battery was removed and taken to battery supplier WAE (formerly known as Williams Advanced Engineering).

While a WAE technician was examining the battery, it exploded, but no worries, we’re saving the planet.

The FIA stated that “while being manually inspected by the battery single supplier team, there was an arc flash and some sparking, that resulted in a localized fire”.

“The investigations and findings provided by the single supplier of batteries for Formula E cars and reviewed by the FIA confirm that use of the battery packs in line with the single supplier’s recommendations and requirements are within acceptable safety tolerances for a motorsport environment and therefore acceptable for on-track activity to go ahead.

“The single supplier of batteries for Formula E cars has assessed available data for all batteries and confirmed that none of the batteries present the same type of symptoms as the unit that failed. The batteries are of the same specification as used in all twenty-two cars and sixteen races last season.”

Statement from Mahindra Racing

In a break between practice sessions of official testing for the ABB FIA World Championship at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, on Tuesday 24th October, a fire was detected in the pitlane area, adjacent to the Mahindra Racing garage.

The on-track Incident Response Team acted quickly and efficiently to contain the fire and minimize the damage caused. One person was taken to hospital for precautionary checks but released without treatment.

However, as a result of the fire, Mahindra Racing sustained damage to its trackside infrastructure. The damage includes but is not limited to the team’s IT infrastructure, engineering stations and to both race cars.

As a result, the team has been forced to amend its program for the remainder of the official test, following an announcement by Formula E that sessions will resume from 14:00 (CEST) today.

For today’s session and tomorrow’s two sessions, Mahindra Racing will run one car after a tremendous effort by the trackside team to recover after this unprecedented setback, and to prepare the #48 car, driven by Edoardo Mortara.

The car will be driven this afternoon by Mortara, with a decision to be taken this evening on driving duties for the remainder of the test.

Mahindra Racing CEO Frederic Bertrand comments: “First of all, I would like to extend my thanks to the Incident Response Team. Although we have sustained extensive damage to our trackside operations, without a doubt their quick actions helped to avoid a much larger incident.

“I would also like to express my gratitude to the FIA, Formula E and to each and every single one of our competitors. The support for Mahindra Racing at this difficult time has been unanimous and is a clear indication to me that we exist and compete as one family within the paddock.

“I am extremely proud of everyone at the Mahindra Racing team. It has taken a huge amount of time, effort, and dedication to get us to a position where we can resume testing with a single car in Valencia this week. Although this comes with some obvious sporting disadvantages, we are all looking forward to resuming our program.”

Lithium-ion car batteries are known to spontaneously combust, sinking cargo ships, downing planes, and burning electric cars and buses to a crisp.

When they catch fire in your garage while charging, they burn your house down.

Formula E was the latest victim, as a big fire in a garage Tuesday stopped pre-season testing in Valencia, and it could be a day or two while the battery supplier investigates.

A statement released by the FIA and Formula E read: “Formula E pre-season testing is preparing to resume from 2pm CET tomorrow, Thursday.

“This is subject to final confirmation at 11am [CET], and will follow completion of an investigation into the incident that happened yesterday. Further updates will follow in due course.”

In testing Tuesday a battery from the DS Penske of Robert Shwartzman exploded causing a big fire.

The decision was taken to postpone all running on Wednesday while the FIA and Formula E investigated the cause of the explosion, while also allowing for the surrounding area to be cleared.

A statement from Formula E said: “In response to an incident earlier today at Formula E pre-season testing in Valencia when a fire caused damage to a garage in the pit lane, on-track testing activity will not go ahead tomorrow, Wednesday.

“Damage from the incident was contained following the activation of emergency procedures. One person was taken to hospital as a precaution but released without treatment.

“An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing but has already identified an issue which Is being addressed. The investigation and further safety assessments will be completed, and we aim to resume on-track activities from Thursday, subject to final confirmation tomorrow.”