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Formula E
DS unlikely to supply Formula E batteries
DS Automotive, which partners with Virgin Racing in Formula E, is unlikely to supply batteries for the whole grid of the championship in the near future.
Sam Smith
Edited: May 24, 2016, 1:18 PM
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The battery tender applications for the single supplier for season five of the series have to be given to the FIA by June 8.
While DS may submit an initial tender, its Performance Director, Xavier Mestelan told Motorsport.com that work on future DS Virgin cars would take priority for the Peugeot Citroen owned DS brand.
“What is important to us at DS is to improve our technology in electric vehicles. But we think at the moment that it is not the job for a car manufacturer [to supply the Formula E field],” said Mestelan.
“We haven’t taken the decision but we will give a response to the tender.
“We have so many things to do in Formula E. But we do not want to give our image for the other cars at this stage. So the only reason to design a new battery is to increase your knowledge in this technology but you can do this alone."
Mestelan, who joined the Formula E programme late last year, believes that a commercial deal within Formula E for the batteries could become a distraction from winning in the all-electric series.
“What is important to us is, when the regulations will open up, we are ready to have the knowledge to have a battery, make a good choice for the cells and the chemistry.
“For the DS engineers it is important to be ready at the right time. At the moment, designing a battery for all of the teams and make a commercial path is not the target for us. Our target is to build the best car in able to fight for victories in each race. The powertrain is the focus and this is important for DS.”
The specification required for the tender process details usable energy of 54kW and a maximum power and re-generation of 250kW. Bidders are able to submit two- or three-year tender proposals.
Renault, Mahindra and current battery suppliers Williams Advanced Engineering are expected to tender for the battery contract. The successful bidder is scheduled to be announced on June 24 but the decision could be delayed for further evaluation.
Season-three DS Virgin a brand new package
The DS Virgin Racing squad is believed to have chosen a single-motor option for season three, after racing with a twin-motor set-up this campaign.
“I can’t give an answer now [on the motor set-up] but what I can tell you is that we have designed a brand new car that we have started from scratch,” said Mestelan.
“We didn’t keep anything from the season two car. We have improved the performance on the energy management but we don’t know if it will be enough. We will reduce the weight of the car from this year, for sure.”
Mestelan went on to confirm that the season three car has "track tested for some days already".
Sam Bird is scheduled to conduct more testing for DS Virgin in the coming weeks.
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