Ferrari opened its long-awaited e-building on June 21 as it prepares its next generation of cars. This facility was inaugurated in the presence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Chairman John Elkann, Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari, and CEO Benedetto Vigna. The new facility will serve as the production center for Ferrari’s new line of gas, hybrid, and electric cars.
The building is designed with a strategy of “prioritizing revenue quality over quantity.” Ferrari is powering the plant with 3,000 rooftop solar panels, which create around 1.3 megawatts of clean power. Ferrari will close a trigeneration plant at the end of the year and will source renewable energy from internal and external sources.
“We are honored to have President Mattarella with us for the inauguration of the e-building, a plant that combines the centrality of the people in the workplace with respect for the environment,” Elkann said in the official announcement. “Investing in our territory is essential to prepare ourselves for Ferrari’s future with confidence and confirms our commitment to Italian excellence and to our country.”
The e-building also has a rainwater harvesting system to reduce water consumption. Energy recovery technology has been integrated to redirect energy from battery and motor testing for other uses. Around 60% of the energy from testing will be recovered and reused.
The facility was built north of the Ferrari campus, which is expanding to accommodate more renewable energy structures.
The carmaker said the e-building was constructed without additional land by replacing outdated “energy-dispersive industrial structures.”
The e-building will be a top training center for people working in mechanical and electrical research and development. The company said staff skill paths for the next line of cars began two years ago, including those needed for new systems and processes and “strengthening knowledge related to the electric motor.” The first Ferrari electric car must still meet the legacy requirements of such a distinguished brand.
Photo Courtesy Ferrari
Ferrari had been hesitant to commit to making an electric car, but it seems the carmaker’s stance has softened. Several of its rivals, like Porsche, Lamborghini, and Audi, have launched or are planning to launch an electric vehicle (EV). The release of the plug-in hybrid SF90 Stradale was the start.
In March, reports surfaced about a deal with South Korean battery supplier SK to an additional 2019 agreement for plug-in hybrid batteries. SK On batteries are currently used in the SF90 Stradale and Purosangue SUV builds. The first EV is expected in 2025 and will be an SUV. According to Reuters, it’s also going to be expensive, with a €500,000 ($543,725) asking price.
The e-building was one of several Ferarri-related achievements in the past few months. The World Endurance Championship racing team won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in June. Charles LeClerc won the Monaco Grand Prix, the most prestigious race on the Formula 1 calendar, and Carlos Sainz finished third in the same race. Don’t ask them about Montreal, though.
