Here's a video without an annoying commentator, so that you can actually hear the engine:
https://youtu.be/IptBVdys-mo?t=1m2s
And yes, the engine sound is amazing! It sounds so much more futuristic than Formula 1.
And yes, the engine sound is amazing! It sounds so much more futuristic than Formula 1.
Then again, F1 cars have terrible sound as well. Too high rev to have a nice sound.
edit: I find it interesting that they have a Senna and a Prost. Coincidence?
edit2: their top speeds are apparently also over 140km/h lower than F1 (225km/h vs. ~360km/h). I wonder why they decided to limit the cars to that and if it's ever getting raised?
Most of the limits on the cars are due to battery technology.
Formula E cars have about 200kg of batteries (a Tesla has >500kg), and these provide about 28kWh - which would run out a little after 3 laps, or perhaps less than that if the incredibly high rate of discharge caused it to catch fire. You couldn't feasibly add too much more battery capacity without weighing the car down too much.
You can get an appreciable fraction of the speed of an F1 car with a fraction of the power, and the difference is even less noticeable if you're on a street circuit; for example around Monaco an F1 car will use only 1.2kg fuel, with a much higher drag aero package.
The Formula E driver lineup is a bit embarrassing, in that almost exactly half of the drivers are failed or retired F1 drivers.
Also, F1 drivers since the turbos returned are much lower pitched, since they rev only up to I think 12000rpm now - you might be surprised!
Oooh that IS exciting! I haven't been paying much attention ever since they banned V10's, but if turbos are back it might be time to revisit.
And that's really interesting about the batteries. Haven't thought of that but it does make sense.
edit: yeah, they do! Fascinating: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIA_Formula_E_Championship#Car
If torque is the same at 5k revs vs 10k (to pick numbers from thin air), when you downgear 10k 2:1, you double the effective torque over 5k at 1:1, for the same output revs.
The battery layout and chemistry will limit the actual power that can be delivered to the powertrain (discharge rate). A faster electric car is not one geared higher, but one which converts the most of this energy into motion.