FIA renews EDF partnership

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has extended its partnership with energy company EDF.

The new deal will run until 2020 and will see the French firm retain its position as an official technical supplier of the FIA.

EDF will continue to work with the FIA on research and audit tests of propulsion, charging and safety in motorsport. The partnership focuses on the FIA’s Formula E and World Endurance Championship series, along with other competitions.

The two parties will continue to collaborate in fields such as the training of emergency personnel, electric vehicle safety standards and the assessment of batteries on EDF’s test bench.

Bernard Salha, senior executive vice-president and head of research and development at EDF, and Bruno Crescent, who instigated the partnership, said: “The extension of this agreement between EDF and the FIA will allow us to build on the important progress that we have made over the last three years.

“Being involved in R&D at the highest level of motorsport enables us to contribute to the emergence of the most innovative technologies. This is key for us at a time when new uses of electric energy are being developed. These innovations will significantly influence the development of electric mobility on the consumer market.”

EDF first partnered with the FIA in 2014.