Hankook's Formula E tire made of 30% sustainable materials

WATTENS, Austria—Drivers competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship this coming season will be racing on tires built with nearly 30 percent sustainable materials, series tire supplier Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd. announced this week.

Formula E's organizing body, the Federation International de l'Automobile, selected Hankook in 2020 as the designated race tire supplier for Formula E, taking over from Group Michelin, which had that role since the series' first season in 2013.

In a presentation at Swarosvski Crystal Worlds in Watten, Hankook said the tire for the series has been developed in cooperation with the racing series and is aimed at meeting the sustainability needs of Formula E and the future of e-mobility, without compromising motorsport performance.

Hankook claims the tire, which uses the Korean company's "iON" EV tire designation, is built with nearly 30% sustainable materials, although it did not elaborate on which materials are being used.

Formula E CEO Jamie Reigle welcomed Hankook to the series, noting that Hankook's "vast experience working with race teams at circuits around the world, its pioneering innovation and commitment to sustainability make it a perfect match for the championship and our new Gen3 car."

Calling Formula E "arguably the most progressive, modern and sustainable racing series in the world from the 2023 season," Hankook Tire President and CEO Sooil Lee noted: "The philosophy of the Hankook brand and our strategic orientation towards an increasingly sustainable future also reflect the spirit and DNA of Formula E. Together, we will advance and significantly influence the development of modern motorsport over the coming years."

Hankook's debut as tire supplier coincides with the launch of Formula E's third-generation race car, which bears little resemblance to the Gen2 car and is claimed to be the most efficient formula racing car ever with more than 40% of the energy used within a race produced by regenerative braking.

Other features include:

• Top speed of over 200 mph;
• Around 95 percent power efficiency from an electric motor delivering up to 350 kilowatts (kW) of power (470HP), compared with approximately 40 percent for an internal combustion engine.
• Two powertrains, located in the front and rear of the car, more than doubling the regenerative capability of the current Gen2 to a 600kW.
• Ultra-high speed charging capability of 600kW for additional energy during a race.
• No rear hydraulic brakes with the addition of the front powertrain and its regenerative capability.

As has been the spec for the previous 10 seasons, the tire for Formula E continues to be a treaded design so it can be used in both dry and wet conditions, the series organizers said, in a bid to save resources. Furthermore, Hankook recycles every set of tires used during a race weekend, adding to the series' sustainability pledge.

Hankook also hopes to leverage its position as Formula E's tire supplier to boost its image with consumers by stressing the "race to road" technology transfer.

Hankook markets a range of iON EV-optimized road tires for both summer (Hankook iON evo) and winter (Hankook iON Winter) use that offers "significantly" lower rolling resistance for more miles per battery load together with "high" traction, even on wet roads and very good braking power.

All Formula E races are run on temporary city circuits. The 2023 Formula E season kicks off the weekend of Jan. 14 in Mexico City and wraps up July 29-30 in London. There are 18 races at 13 venues scheduled throughout the year.