Formula E partners with Comsol on simulation

AI-generated summary

Formula E has partnered with Comsol to use multiphysics simulation and computer-aided engineering to investigate the technological challenges of electric racing. The collaboration will support the all-electric championship’s technology teams in understanding how interacting physical phenomena affect race-car systems operating under extreme constraints. The work covers electrical, thermal, structural, electromagnetic, fluid and battery systems. Rather than examining these disciplines solely in isolation, Comsol will provide simulations to help Formula E understand their interactions. Comsol senior vice-president of product management Bjorn Sjodin describes electric racing as a practical example of the need for multiphysics simulation because several physical phenomena are continuously influencing one another. Comsol Multiphysics will be used directly with Formula E’s technology team to address these engineering challenges. The partnership will also explore simulation applications and digital twins as ways to make physics-based insights accessible beyond traditional modelling workflows. Formula E chief technology officer Dan Cherowbrier identifies AI-assisted modelling, agentic workflows and digital twins as particular areas of interest. He presents these approaches as potential ways to help engineers interact with models, explore designs and access simulation results more readily, rather than reporting capabilities already demonstrated through the partnership. The collaboration comes as Formula E prepares for its GEN4 era, when the next generation of race cars is expected to impose greater demands on performance, efficiency and energy management. The article illustrates the simulation context with a mesh of the GEN4 car in Comsol Multiphysics, but does not provide specific simulation results, quantified benefits or implementation milestones. Separately, Comsol has announced Comsol Multiphysics version 2027, including dedicated electric motor modelling capabilities relevant to advanced engineering workflows. The article does not specify how those new capabilities will be deployed within Formula E. Overall, the partnership’s stated focus is on improving understanding of coupled engineering problems and exploring broader access to simulation insight; measurable racing or development outcomes remain unreported.