Comments for Formula One Going Hybrid with Flywheels at http://www.ecogeek.org , comment 1 to 9 out of 9 comments http://www.ecogeek.org Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:51:57 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/1580#comment-21345 I happen to know a great american invertor who made mayor contributions to flywheels back in 1990. His technology back then is even better than what F1 teams will use in the early 2009 championship. Google about Jack Bitterly Flywheel. If his invention was commercial today, we could be driving cars with 3oohp and 500 miles range or even more. By the way, if you install two identical flywheels rotating againts each other, any force created gets cancelled. But in the other way if can help you to balance a vehicle, that why bikes ride easy with two wheels when going fast, the wheels act like giroscopes. A flywheel is a disc that rotates at high RPMs, when you stop it using a generator, you get electricity which can then power an electric motor. - ALFONSO Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:29:10 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/1580#comment-13052 For those interested in F1, here's a link on the official site about the flywheel system: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/4/7704.html - Jacque Wed, 14 May 2008 08:38:15 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/1580#comment-12581 But that has nothing to do with how fast the flywheel would have to spin, since it will surely be geared to the drivetrain. Also, while 55lbs is very heavy for a 1000 pound car, the entire 55 pounds would not spin, so the effect would be somewhat less. - eleventh Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:15:36 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/1580#comment-12546 I read about the Flybrid system last year. Have a look at their website http://www.flybridsystems.com for more details, including crash testing. I beleive two F1 teams have signed up for that particular system. - FlossyThePig Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:13:04 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/1580#comment-12479 My sentiments align with Dean. Immediately when I saw this, my thoughts went to how a car's motion will be effected by a 55 pound rotating mass. It can't be beneficial for its handling. That is of course if it is a flywheel in the traditional sense of the term. Although, if it is a tire (or other symmetric object) the rotating mass will balance and probably have a minimal effect on the handling. Either way it seems more practical to me to have some sort of oil/gas pressurization chamber to store mechanical energy. I'm not sure how heavy a system like that might get, but there are fewer moving parts and maintenance issues I would think. - jinks Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:28:04 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/1580#comment-12475 Chrysler tried this over 10 years ago - google "Chrysler Patriot". They tried a hybrid race car, using a LNG turbine plus a flywheel to power a elecric motor. Neat in conecept but the flywheel was very heavy, the biggest problem (beyond not being able to get the control systems working) was that they flywheel acted like a big gyroscope, so once spinning, it affected handling of the car in a big way. A 58 lb. flywheel is an interesting idea, and could play into strategy - depending on how the flywheel is energized, the driver can basically control how much extra boost is available. Will be neat to see how they can integrate this with an engine turning at 10,000 rpm. - Dean Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:11:59 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/1580#comment-12473 For awhile, I've wondered about using a flywheel for regenerative power, and wondered whether a car's spare tire could be used as the flywheel. Might as well use it for something instead of just lugging it around in the trunk... - Dark0 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:50:18 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/1580#comment-12472 It almost looks to me that it works on a kind of spring that tightens up. Anyone care to give a clear explanation of the mechanism? - james Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:48:53 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/automobiles/1580#comment-12462 that's amazing, who ever thought that formula one would be eco-friendly! - Oudai Al-Daoud Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:48:55 +0100