Adopting And Adapting Technology With Purpose

The racetrack has long been the R&D incubator for the combustion engine and the same is proving true in the electronic vehicle (EV) sector.

We at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), now in our second season as the title and technology consulting partner for the Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E team, are combining the power of sport with technology to transform the future of sustainable mobility. TCS is developing digital technology that will help Jaguar TCS Racing drive top performance on the racetrack, and – using the data and insights learned for adoption by electronic road vehicles – transform the entire EV ecosystem.

Vehicle electrification is one of the keys to building a sustainable and greener future. It is essential for air quality improvement, human health, and in the mitigation of climate change. The Jaguar TCS Racing collaboration is a coming together of two purpose driven brands to achieve this goal.

TCS became Jaguar TCS Racing’s technology and title partner in 2021. By tapping cutting-edge digital technology and harnessing the power of the cloud, TCS is helping Jaguar TCS Racing maximize its performance at ABB FIA Formula E World Championship races around the world.

The digital twin technology on which the Jaguar I-TYPE 6’s top performance depends, generates data to inform the car’s setup. Digital twin technology has multiple applications and is being used in many other sectors. In Formula E, digital twin technology simulates various scenarios to predict performance. It also means that any race conditions can be recreated and simulated, from wet roads to specific corners and straightaways that require braking or acceleration.

At the racetrack, the cloud empowers the team to access time critical data, allowing swift adjustments to be made, which is vital both to performance and to adherence to race regulations. Formula E is a highly regulated environment, making it an imperative that drivers and engineers are hyper aware of the vehicles’ performance at every stage of a race.

All the cars start each race with the same battery charge. The cars also use regenerative braking to charge the balance required to complete the race, so how the driver handles the car during the race is critical. The Gen3 Formula E car generates 350KW of power, is capable of speeds up to 320 kph, and generates a staggering 600KWh of energy. With all of these variables, digital twin technology allows the team to prepare for the best outcome.

The technology applied to high-performance racing vehicles can be translated into and installed in road EVs, where applicable, knowing it has been tried and tested in sometimes extreme conditions. Gen3 is the first FIA Formula E race car to feature both front and rear powertrains, as 250kW regen is added to the front and 350kW regen added at the rear, doubling the regenerative capability over the Gen2 model. It’s also 50kg lighter and 100kW more powerful than the cars that have preceded it.  This constant innovation and betterment in the performance of the race cars will ultimately further benefit developments in road electric vehicles.

With safety and efficiency uppermost in the priorities for EV development, TCS is pioneering intelligent, connected technologies.

Together, Formula E and Jaguar TCS Racing are driving the sustainability agenda and leveraging the excitement of racing to inspire a new generation of EV engineers.

•  Langa Dube, Country Head and Executive Director, Tata Consultancy Services South Africa