When’s the last time you watched a race for the braking?
It’s the heart-pounding acceleration and death-defying maneuvers that keep most motorsport fans on the edge of their seats. Especially when it comes to Formula E — and really all EVs — the explosive, near-instantaneous acceleration of an electric motor is part of the appeal.
A less considered, yet no less important feature, is how EVs can regeneratively brake, turning friction into fuel. Part of Formula E’s mission is to make EVs a compelling automotive choice for consumers, not just world-class racers; highlighting this powerful aspect of the vehicles has become a priority. The question remained: How do you get others to feel the same exhilaration from deceleration?
The answer came from the mountains above Monaco, as well as some prompts in Gemini 2.5.
In the lead up to the Monaco E-Prix, Formula E and Google undertook a project dubbed Mountain Recharge. The challenge: Whether a Formula E GENBETA race car, starting with only 1% battery, could regenerate enough energy from braking during a descent through France’s coastal Alps to then complete a full lap of the iconic Monaco circuit.
The Power of AI in the Cockpit
By leveraging Gemini, engineers were able to simulate thousands of descent variables in seconds. This allowed the team to pinpoint the exact braking pressure needed to maximize energy recapture without overheating the GENBETA's systems.
The GENBETA car navigating the hairpins of the French Alps.
The results were staggering: the car regenerated nearly 40% of its battery capacity during the 12km descent, proving that the future of racing is as much about energy management as it is about speed.
