A decade ago, Formula E embarked on a mission to ‘Pioneer the Future’, and reaching the end of its tenth season serves as a natural point for introspection. The criteria for success, however, remains open to interpretation. While there is a potential for the series to flourish as a profitable venture in its own right, its secondary objective is to foster advancements for everyday street-ready vehicles. All the competing cars in the series share the same framework, design, and front motor technology, along with a standard 54kWh battery developed by Williams Engineering, limiting power to 250kW. This implies that the primary focus of innovation revolves around promoting sustainability measures, especially in the rear motor segment, as well as software and data evaluation.
Renowned venture capitalist Marc Andreessen highlighted in his 2011 treatise on the technological evolution that “Software is devouring the world.” Meanwhile, at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the perspective diverges slightly. “We believe that software is remodeling the world, and we see ourselves as guardians of that transformation,” expressed Ved Sen, the Head of Innovation at TCS. “The automotive sector has undergone a significant transformation, with the importance of software increasing in comparison to hardware. Currently, software can constitute as much as 40% of a premium automobile.”
As of the 2024 Formula E season, the technology advisory firm is an integral component of the triumphant Jaguar TCS Racing squad, which clinched the team championship title.
