Renault announced its desire to get involved in the latest motorsport phenomenon, Formula E, as they sign as official Technical Partner of Spark Racing Technology. The French car maker sees the FE not only a great motorsport business, but also a testbed for technologies that can be used in production EVs.

The Spark-Renault single-seater electric race car will benefit from Renault’s EV technologies similar to those already in use in their Z.E. range. In the same way that Formula 1 gave us a lot of the technologies we use in our normal car these days, such as traction control, KERS, etc., Formula 1 is an excellent laboratory to try out new electric solution, hone and refine them for use in the production car.

We’re not sure Formula E is going to be an awfully exciting spectacle, but if it results in better performing road-going EVs then it’s worth the hassle.

Formula E is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate the excellence and the reliability of our EV solutions,” said Philippe Klein, Executive Vice President, Corporate Planning, Product Planning & Programs of Renault Group. “We believe that motorsport is an efficient manner to promote the efficiency of new technologies, and we’re eager to use that single-seater in FIA Formula E championship to show our technology is the best.”