APR 27

Formula One, like so many cutting-edge consumers, has announced that it is going hybrid. Unlike those consumers, however, Formula One will be using the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), a fundamentally different piece of technology from what currently available hybrids rely on for assistance.

KERS is a 55-pound hybrid addition (light by hybrid standards, but heavy by Formula One standards) that stores kinetic energy in a flywheel in the vehicle’s transmission. This kinetic energy can then be used at the push of a “boost” button on the steering wheel. Instead of using batteries and electric motors for energy storage, KERS relies on mechanical energy storage.

The people behind KERS are excited about the technology, and not just because they like to see cars go really fast. Evidently KERS is twice as efficient as current battery hybrids and has possible application in millions of production vehicles. If this system gets into consumer hands, it could mean more GHG reductions for potentially less money and less production-related environmental impact.

Via Gas2.org

Comments (9)

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written by Oudai Al-Daoud, April 28, 2008

that's amazing, who ever thought that formula one would be eco-friendly!

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How does it work?
written by james, April 28, 2008

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?

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Could spare tire be a flywheel?
written by Dark0, April 28, 2008

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...

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Better idea than others in the past
written by Dean, April 28, 2008

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.

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written by jinks, April 28, 2008

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.

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Old news
written by FlossyThePig, April 30, 2008

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.

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Formula 1 car's engines spin at 19k RPM
written by eleventh, April 30, 2008

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.

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written by Jacque, May 14, 2008

For those interested in F1, here's a link on the official site about the flywheel system: http://www.formula1.com/news/h.../7704.html

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FLYWHEELS ARE OLD
written by ALFONSO, November 29, 2008

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.

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