The importance of technology transfer in Nissan Formula E Team’s success

How Nissan Research & Development played a key role in the Japanese outfit’s stunning start to Season 11

When Nissan revealed its Ambition 2030 plan back in November 2021, the company decided to use its Formula E program not only as a promotional platform, but also as a test bed for its electrification technology.

Ahead of the GEN3 era, which began in January 2023, Nissan acquired full ownership of its racing team, gaining complete control from a sporting standpoint. It then took this opportunity to implement a system to transfer the valuable expertise of the Nissan Research and Development team in Japan.

This was done by placing Tadashi Nishikawa into the role of Chief Powertrain Engineer. Fondly known as ‘Tad’, Nishikawa-san is responsible for linking the automotive and motorsport sides of the manufacturer, a crucial role in ensuring a strong connection between the two.

Tad worked almost 20 years at Nissan Japan, gaining experience as he studied and becoming a key member of staff. The experience gained and the ideas he forged while in the company’s home country proved to be vital when Tad moved over to the Nissan Formula E Team headquarters in France.

It’s a process which has shown its benefits so far during the current Formula E season (Season 11), with Nissan leading all the championships’ classifications as the team prepares for Round 5 in Miami.

A quarter of the way into the season, Nissan Formula E Team currently tops both the Teams’ and Drivers’ standings, with Nissan holding a 47-point lead in the Manufacturers’ World Championship after accumulating 130 points in the opening four races.

The four Nissan-powered cars (two Nissan Formula E Team cars and two Nissan ‘s customer team NEOM McLaren Formula E cars) have made up half of the podium positions so far this season, being the only manufacturer represented in the top three at every race during the 2024/25 campaign so far. 

A major contributing factor to this remarkable start to the GEN3 Evo era is the strength and efficiency of the Nissan e-4ORCE 05 powertrain, which has greatly benefitted from this technology transfer.

Nissan Formula E Team’s Managing Director and Team Principal, Tommaso Volpe, states that the “transfer of expertise that the Chief Powertrain Engineer brings from the automotive side of the business to the competitive side of it in our Formula E Team is vital. It shows the importance of the entire Nissan workforce worldwide in helping us to achieve these results on-track.”

Tad’s task upon joining the squad was to develop the powertrain for the current season. Initially, bringing in new ideas led to doubts from his motorsport colleagues, although they quickly came on board with his plans.

“When I joined the Formula E project in June 2021, the GEN3 power unit prototype phase was already completed, so my first chance to make a difference was on the GEN3 Evo powertrain for the Nissan e-4ORCE 05,” explains Nishikawa-san. “There were some doubts from some of my motorsport colleagues when I initially joined because I was coming in with a lot of new ideas from the automotive side. However, when I showed them the simulation and the data behind my work after a few months, I gained their respect as they saw what I could bring to the program.”

In March 2024 Nissan became the first manufacturer to commit to the GEN4 era, meaning it will compete in the championship until at least 2030. This perfectly aligns with the company’s Ambition 2030 long-term vision for empowering electrified mobility and will also see Nissan’s involvement in Formula E stretch to at least 12 years, making it the company’s longest ever motorsport commitment to a World Championship.

The Formula E project is a great way to showcase globally the high-level which Nissan’s electrification model is working on, as proven by the excellent start to this season’s championship.

“There are several reasons why we are performing strongly but, in my role as Chief Powertrain Engineer, it’s important to analyze all the trade-offs that we have to make between different elements of the car,” explains Tad. “It’s about understanding how different parts affect each other, and what that does to the overall performance.

“Ensuring that we maximize the simulation time during the development phase is a key factor ahead of pre-season testing. After that, once we saw the first physical results, we knew that we were heading in the right direction.”

This project thrives on the Chief Powertrain Engineer’s expertise. However, understandably, there are some differences between the automotive and motorsport sides. His experience was a major help for the technology transfer both ways, but the new environment and targets also took some getting used to.

“On the automotive side it’s about mass producing a car that sells strongly and sometimes the overall aim can be lost as you don’t immediately know if it’s been a success. However, in Formula E the target is a lot clearer and easier to see, as you can tell straight away whether you’re quick and efficient or not.”

As Nissan Formula E Team looks to the future and towards the GEN4 era, the role of the Chief Powertrain Engineer will only become more important and vital in the team’s set up. Nishikawa-san’s role will soon be taken over by Takuro Iwase, who will look to further develop his predecessor’s excellent progress.

Reflecting on his time in France, Nishikawa-san concludes: “It’s been an unforgettable experience and one that I would recommend to any fellow Nissan engineers willing to learn and develop their careers in a motorsport environment. The different elements of the role are challenging, but there is a real bond within the team which helps with the acclimatization and learning process. I would like to thank Tommaso and everyone here at Nissan Formula E Team who made this possible, as well as my amazing family for their support. I wish Iwase-san all the best, I know that he has what it takes to continue the success long into the future with GEN4 on the horizon.”

While a valued member of the squad departs, the goal for Nissan Formula E Team remains the same. Volpe pays tribute to Nishikawa-san’s success with the team, while also looking to the future: “It’s been a pleasure to work with Tad and to see him grow in his role as Chief Powertrain Engineer, helping us to achieve so much in his time with us. His expertise from the Nissan’s automotive side has helped greatly in improving key elements of the GEN3 Evo car. We now welcome onboard Takuro as we look to maintain this level of performance heading into the GEN4 era.

“The start of Season 11 has been excellent, with Nissan leading all three championships. We know that even though it’s been a brilliant few months, there are aspects that we can still improve, so we will continue to work hard. It’s full speed ahead now for the rest of the season, so we must embrace the fact that all our competitors are trying to catch us and do our utmost to still be in this position as the checkered flag falls at the last race of the season in London!”