Formula E and Smart Cities announce new partnership

It was announced this morning by the FIA Formula E Championship that they have secured a new partnership with the Smart Cities Initiative. This is a new programme that has been created to promote the use of safe, sustainable and accessible e-mobility solutions in cities.

The Smart Cities initiative aims to form synergies between the motorsport and mobility pillars of the FIA, bringing industry experts, public authorities and mobility specialists together to identify and tackle issues facing over populated, heavily polluted cities.

Both parties have agreed that three races from this year's ePrix schedule have been selected to hold Smart Cities conferences during the 2016/17 season of the FIA Formula E Championship along with a special event in Paris, with each focusing on a key area linked to e-mobility and urban growth.

The first Smart Cities Forum in Mexico City will highlight the advancement of green mobility while during the Berlin ePrix the initiative will address new mobility models. During the season finale in Montreal, taking place on July 29 & 30, the Smart Cities Forum will discuss the rise of Smart Data and its capabilities.

During the Awards Gala event to celebrate the end of the season in Montreal, a panel of judges will recognise two of the best projects that have been nominated by each of the Formula E races held this season to be recognised for their efforts in mobility services and mobility solutions.

The Smart Cities Start-up which was established in conjunction with investment fund company Digital Leaders Ventures, will take place during the week of each race and will identify, support and invest in some of the most innovative and relevant technology companies on a concept that could help revolutionise how cities approach e-mobility issues, sustainability, safety and being connected.

At the launch today, Alejandro Agag, Founder & CEO of Formula E said the following about the new partnership:-

“I am delighted that the FIA has chosen Formula E to partner them on the Smart Cities Initiative. It is an ambitious task to address the issues city centres are facing such as air pollution and e-mobility, and I am proud that together with the governing body and our partners we are celebrating those who are creating new technologies in the fight against climate change,” said Agag”

“As the automotive industry is moving toward electrification, Formula E is a platform that can accelerate and promote the change to sustainable mobility.”

Also speaking at the launch today, FIA President Jean Todt believes that this is a new direction for the FIA and believes that this new partnership could help the future of the cities involved as well as the series.

“The FIA Smart Cities is something entirely new for our Federation,” said Todt.
“We wanted to come up with an initiative that could bring together the best aspects of sustainable mobility, to make a mark on the cities that host rounds of the FIA Formula E Championship, a series that presents the best opportunities for synergies between the two pillars on which the FIA stands, sport and mobility.

“We have the support of the city councils, of our clubs and also important players from the industry and the finance, who have opted to support us in this initiative. Solving the mobility challenge will require bold, coordinated actions from the private and public sectors: it is my hope that the FIA Smart Cities initiative can contribute to design better cities for those who live in them now and for future generations.”

At the launch today, Marco Parroni, Head Global Sponsoring Bank Julius Baer said the following about the new partnership:-

“Our global partnership with the FIA Formula E Championship supports to raise awareness towards innovative technologies for more sustainable means of transport. Being one of the founding partners, the FIA Smart Cities Initiative is a logical step as this will enable us to contribute to the discussion of the future of mobility,” added Parroni.

“Our Next Generation philosophy revolves around an exploration of the global megatrends set to affect our lives in years to come and it seeks out sustainable growth opportunities based on those megatrends, one of which is definitely energy transition and its interlinked topic mobility,”

Finally at the launch today, Robert Denda, Head of Network Technology at Global Infrastructure and Networks division at multinational energy company ENEL (which is Formula E's Official Power Partner) is happy to be a part of this new venture

“We are pleased to be part of the FIA Smart Cities initiative, which is a unique opportunity to create an intersectoral platform for best practice sharing on energy, innovation, connectivity and Smart Urban Services,” said Robert

“We will contribute our technology and leadership in Smart Grids development, leveraging on our partnership with Formula E, to help shape a global smart community which promotes efficiency, sustainability and smart mobility to make our cities better places to live in.”

Sarah Jones- @jonesy_laaa