Energetic debate
The introduction of the FIA's Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) to Formula One is, as BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen reminded the media at the launch of the F1.08 on Monday, 'just 14 months away'.
Teams thus have a little over a year to not only design, build and develop an energy recovery system capable of generating 60kW before making it available in a short burst for overtaking purposes, but, as a precursor to all of the above, first need to decide upon exactly which system provides the way forward.
Effectively, teams have two options: a lithium battery/supercapacitor combination - the electronic option; or the gyroscopic solution - using a fly-wheel as a base - as being developed by the Silverstone-based Flybrid company, headed by a team of former Cosworth and Renault engineers.