Yamaha Collaborates with Lola on Formula E Powertrains
Yamaha Motor Co. has recently announced a groundbreaking technical partnership with Lola Cars, a UK-based company, aimed at developing and providing high-performance electric powertrains for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. This championship stands as the pinnacle of racing for all-electric single-seaters.
The collaboration between Yamaha Motor and Formula E is poised to push the boundaries of electric technology, fostering innovation and expertise in this domain. Lola Cars, renowned for its car package designs, will be partnering closely with Yamaha to develop and supply the electric powertrain, with a primary focus on achieving unparalleled energy management, power density, and efficiency.
Aligned with Yamaha’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the company has set an ambitious goal to achieve carbon neutrality in Scope 3 emissions by 2050. To realize this vision, Yamaha will continue to prioritize research and development efforts in technologies that promote sustainability.
This strategic alliance marks Lola Cars’ triumphant return to global motorsport, marking the beginning of a multi-year collaboration with Yamaha Motor Company in entering the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship starting from Season 11. With a rich history boasting over 500 championship victories, Lola Cars and Yamaha share a profound connection to track racing, making this partnership particularly poignant.
“We are thrilled to confirm our entry in Formula E. For us, this is more than just an opportunity to return Lola to the track, it’s also a fantastic platform for technological development. Lola Cars has a decorated history of success in chassis and aerodynamic design. This project will allow us to create a unique electrified platform with a software focus at its core to provide a basis for Lola’s wider plans in defining the future of motorsport technology.”
Mark Preston, Motorsport Director at Lola Cars.
The partnership signifies the first of many ambitious projects for Lola Cars, as it strives to lead the industry in sustainable engineering and motorsport. With a strategic focus on electrification, hydrogen, and sustainable fuels and materials, Lola is poised to redefine the future of motorsport technology.
“We are incredibly excited to be partnering with the Yamaha Motor Company as we enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. To be selected by one of the most innovative OEMs in the world to partner on a project of this significance is a testament to the caliber of the team that we have been building at Lola. The focus of this project is squarely around technological development in which Lola is fully invested. We see the highly efficient 350 kW electric powertrain that underpins the manufacturer’s perimeter in Formula E, as a cornerstone technology with exciting applications across many forms of topflight international motorsport in the coming years.”
Till Bechtolsheimer, Chairman of Lola Cars, echoed this sentiment.
“Yamaha Motor Company is accelerating the research and development of various technologies that contribute to sustainability. As the technical partner, we hope to acquire more advanced energy management technologies through the highest level of electric racing in Formula E. We also share Lola’s new philosophy of sustainable motorsport and we are very pleased and honored to form this partnership with them.”
Heiji Maruyama, Managing Executive Officer and Director at Yamaha Motor Co., expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration.
In essence, the collaboration between Yamaha Motor and Lola Cars represents a significant stride towards the future of electric racing, underlining a shared commitment to innovation and sustainability in motorsport.
Content Credit: EV Mechanica