Schaeffler, the global integrated automotive and industrial supplier, will support an upcoming “Ecology and Mobility Fair” in Marunouchi by supporting the first demonstration run of an official Formula E team race car in Japan. The objective of the event, organized at the famous Tokyo landmark on November 23, 2016, is to bring awareness about integration of ecology and mobility in shaping future urban landscapes and lifestyle. Demonstration run of the ABT Schaeffler FE02 electric race car will be the highlight of the event, which will also feature talk-shows about future innovations in mobility and ecology, personal mobility experience zones and related activities to raise awareness about climate change and environment protection. ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team driver Lucas Di Grassi, runner-up in the last season of the Formula E championship, will drive the race car during the event. Formula E – World’s first racing series for electric vehicles The FIA Formula E began making history in 2014 as the world’s first racing series for electric vehicles. Its objective is to demonstrate the potential of sustainable mobility by featuring races in the heart of major cities across the world. In the second season of the series, FIA allowed the teams to develop their own drive trains, which meant that various technical concepts were competing against each other. This made Formula E an important test bed for the development of sophisticated automobile drive technologies, which is also true for Schaeffler. Developing and transferring expertise As an exclusive technology partner, Schaeffler developed the drive train in conjunction with its team, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport. This means Formula E is a valuable aspect of Schaeffler’s comprehensive involvement in motor sports and development and provides important findings for Schaeffler technologies for hybrid and all-electric vehicles. Dr. Tomas Smetana, Chief Technology Officer at Schaeffler Asia Pacific, explains: “Our involvement in Formula E helps us to gain a better understanding of the environment and the systems in the field of electric mobility. In this way, Schaeffler is able to further develop its position as a development partner and systems supplier at the same time”. Pioneering technology – a purebred racer The ABT Schaeffler FE02 is a purebred racer packed with high-technology. While most of the components of a Formula E race car, including the battery and the entire aero-kit are identical for all contenders, Schaeffler and ABT have developed the entire electric motor, transmission and subsequent software. Economy and efficiency play a special role during Formula E. The aim is to use as little energy as possible and to recover as much energy as possible using recuperation (braking energy regeneration). As is the case with hybrid and electric vehicles, braking is carried out in Formula E using a conventional mechanical brake and using the electric machine. In this case, the latter functions as a generator and converts the energy released during deceleration back into electrical energy. Mobility for tomorrow at ecological icon Marunouchi Marunouchi is the economic center of Japan and home to over 40% of Fortune Global 500 company headquarters in Tokyo. The area is also renowned as benchmark of ecological and environmentally-friendly cityscapes. Year 2016 will mark the 15th anniversary of Tokyo’s winter tradition - “Marunouchi Illumination” – an annual event that features millions of LED bulbs twinkling elegantly on the trees lining Naka-dori Street. The goal of the event is to push the limits of innovation in LED technology by reducing the power consumption of bulbs while maintaining the brightness levels over successive years. “Supporting the “Ecology and Mobility Fair” at Marunouchi – home to the world’s ‘most environment-conscious illumination display’ – is an extension of Schaeffler’s strong commitment to shaping the “mobility for tomorrow” by developing innovative technologies together with our customers and partners,” says Mr. Shinzo Yotsumoto, Managing Director, Representative Director & President of Automotive, Schaeffler Japan. “Formula E is an excellent showcase of eco-mobility and at the same time it represents the most advanced innovations in automotive technology,” he adds.