Michelin is set to electrify city streets throughout the world in 2014 as the new tire supplier for the FIA Formula E Championship.

Formula E is a new motor sport series that will bring electric racing to city centres around the world in next year. The aim is to develop a World Championship designed to promote interest and investment in electric vehicles and sustainable motoring.

An open championship, the FIA Formula E Championship gives car manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their electrical energy innovations in a racing environment, designing cars to the technical specifications set out by the FIA.

Teams representing Britain (Drayson Racing) and China (China Racing) have become the first candidates for what will be a 10-team and 20-driver grid for the first Formula E season.

“I am delighted to welcome Michelin to Formula E, an innovative new motor sport concept which will highlight the commitment of all participants to what will be an exciting racing championship delivered to the public in city centres with particular attention devoted to sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions,” FIA President Jean Todt said.

“Michelin has a long and relevant history of performance allied with technical invention and are therefore ideal partners for Formula E.”

The debut season will see a race street circuit calendar with events so far confirmed in London, Rome, Miami, Los Angeles, Putrajaya, Beijing, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janeiro. Expressions of interest were received from 23 host cities keen to play a role in the future of motorsport.

“The Michelin Group is very honored to have been accepted by the FIA for the new FIA Formula E Championship,” said Florent Menegaux, Director of the Automobile Tyre Product Line of the Michelin Group.

“?We are constantly seeking to introduce innovations into our tires, in order to assure a more efficient and durable mobility. ?Competition is a formidable testing ground in which to experiment and develop future technologies. ?The FIA Formula E Championship, which focuses on new forms of energy and will take place in an urban setting, will give us the opportunity to apply the very best of our technological know-how.”