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The all-electric World Championship makes its India debut in Hyderabad this weekend. A look at what the motorsport series is about and what you can expect

A Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) world championship event returns to India this weekend for the first time since the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida hosted the third and final Indian Grand Prix Formula One race ten years ago.

But this time, the vrooming, naturally aspirated V8 engines give way for a more eco-friendly, fully electric powertrain as the FIA Formula E World Championship makes its Hyderabad debut.

As India prepares to get back on the world motorsport calendar with this race, The Hindu offers you a primer on what to expect and what the championship is all about.

Formula E — the first single-seater, all-electric championship — was started in 2014-15 to promote sustainable mobility and electric vehicles. The series received world championship status from the FIA ahead of the 2020-21 season.

The open-wheel, open-cockpit racing series is powered by an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine.

Since its debut, the series has seen the cars evolve, with the third generation of vehicles introduced ahead of the current season, which began in Mexico City in January.

In a bid to take the races to the people, Formula E stages them on the streets of various cities rather than in purpose-built circuits, which are usually located outside the main population centres.