Not every advance in electric-vehicle technology takes place inside the sterile calm of a research laboratory.
BMW AG, Volkswagen AG's Audi and a Silicon Valley-based battery maker are helping push the boundaries by racing battery-powered cars through Saudi Arabia, New York, London and Seoul at speeds topping 170 mph (270 kph).
Breakthroughs made by competitors in Formula E, which began its sixth season this week, are being incorporated into family SUVs and sedans — and even India's electric rickshaws — as manufacturers seek to improve and extend their electric lineups while nations gradually phase out gas guzzlers. More powerful batteries and better motors, energy-management software and braking systems are all being transferred from the racetrack to the showroom.