Formula E is set to continue as a single-make chassis and battery series beyond the 2017/2018 season following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Geneva on Friday.
Formula E had originally planned to introduce battery and chassis competition in the future, with a gradual shift away from a single-make series beginning with in-house powertrain production this season.
However, it will now retain a single supplier for both components beyond season five, with the FIA issuing a call for tender.
Williams currently supplies Formula E its batteries, while the chassis are developed by Dallara, with both of their contracts expiring at the end of season four.
The FIA statement said that the decision to stick with a single supplier was largely driven by the push to get cars lasting a full race distance, with the current format featuring a swap mid-race due to the limitations of the technology.
Here’s the statement following the WMSC meeting:
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In accordance with the FIA Formula E Championship Technical Roadmap – the objective of which is for each driver to be able to complete the current race distance with the use of only one car – the Formula E Committee and the Electric and New Energy Championships Commission will proceed with two calls for tender. These are:
1. To identify a single provider for batteries from the fifth season onwards
2. To identify a single chassis supplier for the fifth season onwards.
The applicants will be presented for selection at the next World Motor Sport Council.
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In other electric racing-related news, the FIA also confirmed that it would be exploring the possibility of creating an eKarting championship.
“Following the growth of interest in electric karting, the World Motor Sport Council acknowledged the intention of the FIA Electric and New Energy Championships Commission to create an FIA eKarting Cup,” the statement said.
“The FIA will launch a call for Expressions of Interest from potential Promoters, single chassis and single electric powertrain suppliers for a future eKarting championship.”