---
title: "Di Grassi: Second Gen Formula E Car ‘Could Surpass 186 MPH’"
description: "The former Formula E champion weighs in on the new wave of electric race cars."
date: "2018-02-03"
modified: "2018-02-03"
authors:
  - name: "Jerry Perez"
    job_title: "Deputy Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/18181/di-grassi-second-gen-formula-e-car-could-surpass-186-mph"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "EV"
  - "FIA"
  - "motorsports"
  - "racing"
---

# Di Grassi: Second Gen Formula E Car ‘Could Surpass 186 MPH’

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/02/1-gen2-formula-e-cityscape-2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The Formula E circus may be heading into the fourth round of the championship in Chile this weekend, but its sights are already set on the second-generation race car that will propel the series' star drivers in the upcoming seasons.

After four seasons of learning the ins and outs of [all-electric](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/17505/the-secrets-of-electric-cars-and-their-motors-its-not-all-about-the-battery-folks>) racing, the FIA claims the new race car is the natural progression of its predecessor. Promising double the energy storage capacity and double the range of the current car, the "Gen-2" aims to be the pinnacle of speedy, electric mobility. In addition, the racing series is doing away with car-swapping during pit stops for the 2019 season.

![message-editor%2F1517615442333-2-gen2formulae-cityscape1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1517615442333-2-gen2formulae-cityscape1.jpg>)
*The future of the FIA's Formula E World Championship, *FIA**

According to *[E-Racing 365](<https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/sarrazin-to-test-new-formula-e-car/>),* testing of the new prototype won't happen for another few weeks, but that hasn't stopped the reigning Formula E World Champion Luca di Grassi from weighing in on the performance of the upcoming car. "The car is more efficient and it has more power," di Grassi told [*Motorsport.com*](<https://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/new-formula-e-car-capable-of-more-than-300kmh-1000968/>). "In the current configuration, with the power we'll have available, on a long straight this car could surpass 300km/h (186 mph) without a problem, I would expect."

Despite images of the new racer already circulating all over the internet, the FIA has chosen to officially unveil the Gen2 [Formula E](<https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/16051/hugo-boss-announces-official-role-with-formula-e-after-f1-exit>) car at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show on March 6, 2018.

## Author
Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/drive_jerry/>)