High speeds and Attack Mode on the streets of southern Seoul

A demo Formula E car is parked on Pier 3 at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York on July 14 ahead of the New York City E-Prix. [FIA]

For very obvious reasons, the biggest difference between Formula E and other motorsports is the car.

All Formula E drivers drive the Spark SRT05E made by French automaker Spark Racing Technology — although in the world of Formula E it is often simply referred to as Gen 2. The cars are fully electric and can reach speeds of up to 280 kilometers per hour (174 miles per hour), although not necessarily during races.

The powertrain in a Formula E car can get it from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 2.8 seconds, which is less than 0.2 seconds slower than its more famous, gas-guzzling cousins on the Formula One starting grid.

The nature of the cars, with all drivers using essentially the same vehicle, puts the focus solely on the skill and prowess of drivers and their support teams.

Formula E cars also come with some added extras designed to make the race a little more entertaining and engaging for fans while taking advantage of the versatility than an electric powertrain offers.

The first extra feature is Attack Mode, which allows drivers to call on an extra 30 kilowatts of power if they are willing to drive off the racing line and through a special activation zone. The duration and availability of the extra boosts change depending on the course and are typically only announced shortly before a race begins.

When considering activating Attack Mode, drivers have to weigh the risk vs. reward of leaving the racing line and potentially falling behind, only to get a boost and a little more power.

The other feature is Fanboost, which essentially gamifies the sport by allowing fans watching the race to vote to give their favorite driver a 5 kilowatt boost during the race. The top five drivers in the vote gain access to the boost, which could be enough to help them make a critical overtake or defend their lead.

This feature is not unlocked until after the 22nd minute of the 45 minute race, and does not have to be used.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]