Formula E. Electric Ecstasy or Sorry Silence?

Now that the majority of the Motorsport calendar for 2012 has come to a close, it's time for the sport to do one of two things; ease the foot off of the gas and get all festive, or pent-up and looking ahead to the future, and the return of the green light and chequered flag. Oh, and this can also involve getting festive.
I am doing the latter, and perhaps being too eager. For you see, it's not 2013 at the moment that im particularly excited about, but 2014, and the introduction of Formula E.
This new-for-2014 series is perhaps one of the most important Motorsport ventures of our generation, well mine at least, and could possibly help significantly shape the future of Motorsport around the world. The 'E', as maybe guessed, stands for electric (cue the booing over no noise, from me included). Yes, that word thats creeping into the automotive world like a Bull in China Shop. Not welcome, but there. So put two and two together, and  you've got it; a racing series  comprising of all-electric, single-seater machinery.
It's not the first attempt to launch a series based on similarly environment-friendly principles, but unlike previous failed efforts, the project has a severe amount of backing behind it, leaving failure as a practically  redundant option. The single most important aspect to Formula E, is it's FIA-granted License, which in itself grabs the attention of anyone with even a vague whiff of Motorsport knowledge.
Perhaps more interesting and insightful however, is the more hands-on features of the series. For example, McLaren have themselves agreed with series CEO Alejandro Agag, to supply the motor, transmission, and electronics, or in Queens English  the cars essentials. Speaking of cars, no-less than 42 of them have been ordered, with ex-Formula One and GP2 driver Lucas Di Grassi tasked with the vital job of testing and fine-tuning the radical new car.
So just why does this bode so significantly on Motorsport as a whole? Well the first key point to remember, is that FIA President Jean Todt has publicly expressed his wish for a greater influence of 'green technology' to be used not just in Formula One, but across the FIA spectrum. When you consider that Formula E's inaugural series in 2014 coincides with dramatic technical rule changes taking place in Formula One (new engines, more environmentally friendly aspects throughout the cars),  it could be judged that the new Formula could stand as a so-called 'guinea-pig' series for the next set of technical regulation changes after 2014 in the premier-class, which one would predict to be yet more 'green' focused.
McLaren's involvement stands in itself, as a significant indication of just how  seriously Formula E is being taken, with the Woking-based team seemingly chomping at the bit to move-in and begin development on electric-Motorsport solutions. Such development would surely benefit not only their Formula One outfit, but also the brands road car-division and overall reputation as industry-leaders when it comes to environmentally -aware technology. After all, their Formula E endeavour was announced only a matter of months after McLaren was officially confirmed as being carbon-neutral, in February 2012.
The creation of Formula E as a whole is clearly one fuelled by ambition, technological-advance and long-term focus for Motorsport as a whole, and despite the inevitable loss of the noise-aspect, should be at least welcomed cautiously by all. With the series already confirming events in Rome and Rio di Janeiro, aswell as promising a calendar filled only by street-races, Formula E certainly can be commended for being nothing short of promising and exciting, and certainly one to keep an eye on during it's 2013 pregnancy.