How Gen4 will “wow the world”
Could Formula E’s 2026 car rival F1?
The next evolution of Formula E arrives in 2026/27 with the Gen4 car. Batteries will have a larger capacity meaning races may extend by 10 minutes-plus
Lucas di Grassi probably won’t be racing in Formula E in 2026. But the 40-year-old will be taking a keen interest, believing that the next rules set will be “incredible” and will “wow the world with insane performance”.
The plans for this era, which will kick off at the end of 2026, include regeneration capacity reaching up to 700kW and a power output of 600kW, a two-kit bodywork plan and active four-wheel drive.
The last of these attributes will already be included to a large extent via the update to the Gen3 era, known as Gen3 Evo, which will be on the grid for next season and begins at São Paulo this December.
It’s tempting to think that Formula E will become a genuine rival to Formula 1 but that is still fanciful. Despite some posturing from its promotional-savvy CEO, Formula E will have its work cut out to first find suitable circuits to race on.
Some tracks like Paris and Rome have already fallen by the wayside because of a perceived lack of room to extend. The ExCeL Arena track, which races inside and outside the great Docklands edifice, is also under threat for 2026, with Silverstone and Brands Hatch in negotiations to take a Formula E race.
Formula E is evolving, and while the challenges are great it is at least showing to the world that its once-nascent status is blossoming into something that is maturing – and has a sporting and technical backbone.