The fully-electric Spark-Renault SRT_01E "Formula E" racing car has successfully been driven, leaving test-driver Lucas di Grassi excited for the upcoming season of electric open-wheel racing.
Unveiled earlier this year, the car was designed and built by Spark Racing Technology. For this initial bout of testing a 50kw battery was fitted, giving the car just 25% of the juice it'll have come race time.
F1-experienced racer di Grassi had the car out for some forty trouble-free laps, and liked with what he felt: "I can assure all the drivers will have a lot of fun with this car — even with just a quarter of the power it has quite a lot of grip and the electric motor produces huge torque."
The Formula E season begins in Beijing, September 2014, where the SRT_01E will compete against nineteen other open-wheeled electric racers.
More photos and info in the press release.
F1 Driver Says All-Electric Formula-E Racer Will Be Fun To Drive