<p>Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone today ridiculed the proposed Formula E series, which claims to be environment-friendly, calling the concept "lawn-mower" and insisting that it is "stupid" to consider it a competition to F1.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Asked how he sees the new series, which will begin from 2014 with 10 races, Ecclestone flatly rejected the very idea.<br /><br />"I think those sort of things are lawn-mowers. I am not very supportive of this," Bernie Ecclestone told PTI.<br /><br />FIA President Jean Todt has signed an agreement with a group of investors -- Formula E Holdings Ltd (FEH)-- to stage the Formula E series, which will have 10 teams and 20 drivers.<br /><br />The Electric Prix will be different from F1 races. These races will happen in one day.<br />The pole position will be the result of playoffs, with cars racing against another, in a format similar to tennis or the Champions League.<br /><br />And in the pit-stop, the driver will not change tyres or batteries, but the car itself.<br /><br />Does Ecclestone sees a competition from Formula E in future? "That would be stupid," he said.<br /><br />Alejandro Agag, the CEO of Formula E, had said that the series was a future-centric championship.<br /><br />"The global demand for electric vehicles is growing all the time and we are reflecting that in the sport. This is history in the making and a chance to inspire future generations to curb carbon emissions."<br /><br />"The automotive industry is currently going through a process of significant transformation that will become increasingly visible. In this transformation, the electric car will play a key role as the most practical way to achieve the goal of more efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles," Agag had said.<br /><br />Agag, who already supports teams in the GP2 and GP3 series, did not want a comparison with F1.<br /><br />"We don't compare ourselves to F1. We are not the electric F1, as Luca Montezzemolo said recently, we are Formula E, which is a completely different concept.<br /><br />"We think F1 is great, and I myself have been part of that world, through my GP2 Team (feeder series to F1) for many years. You cannot compare Skiing and Snowboard. I can guarantee you something, we will be the fastest and most exciting Electric Car Championship in the world," he had stated.<br /><br />The Formula E races will last about an hour in total and each driver will have two cars. The cars will have a charge lasting around 25 minutes, so there will be a change whilst the first car is re-charged and then another change to the original car for the last part of the race.<br /><br />The cars will be single seaters, able to reach speeds of over 200km per hour.</p>
<p>Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone today ridiculed the proposed Formula E series, which claims to be environment-friendly, calling the concept "lawn-mower" and insisting that it is "stupid" to consider it a competition to F1.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Asked how he sees the new series, which will begin from 2014 with 10 races, Ecclestone flatly rejected the very idea.<br /><br />"I think those sort of things are lawn-mowers. I am not very supportive of this," Bernie Ecclestone told PTI.<br /><br />FIA President Jean Todt has signed an agreement with a group of investors -- Formula E Holdings Ltd (FEH)-- to stage the Formula E series, which will have 10 teams and 20 drivers.<br /><br />The Electric Prix will be different from F1 races. These races will happen in one day.<br />The pole position will be the result of playoffs, with cars racing against another, in a format similar to tennis or the Champions League.<br /><br />And in the pit-stop, the driver will not change tyres or batteries, but the car itself.<br /><br />Does Ecclestone sees a competition from Formula E in future? "That would be stupid," he said.<br /><br />Alejandro Agag, the CEO of Formula E, had said that the series was a future-centric championship.<br /><br />"The global demand for electric vehicles is growing all the time and we are reflecting that in the sport. This is history in the making and a chance to inspire future generations to curb carbon emissions."<br /><br />"The automotive industry is currently going through a process of significant transformation that will become increasingly visible. In this transformation, the electric car will play a key role as the most practical way to achieve the goal of more efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles," Agag had said.<br /><br />Agag, who already supports teams in the GP2 and GP3 series, did not want a comparison with F1.<br /><br />"We don't compare ourselves to F1. We are not the electric F1, as Luca Montezzemolo said recently, we are Formula E, which is a completely different concept.<br /><br />"We think F1 is great, and I myself have been part of that world, through my GP2 Team (feeder series to F1) for many years. You cannot compare Skiing and Snowboard. I can guarantee you something, we will be the fastest and most exciting Electric Car Championship in the world," he had stated.<br /><br />The Formula E races will last about an hour in total and each driver will have two cars. The cars will have a charge lasting around 25 minutes, so there will be a change whilst the first car is re-charged and then another change to the original car for the last part of the race.<br /><br />The cars will be single seaters, able to reach speeds of over 200km per hour.</p>