Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[BMW gives up on KERS for the remainder of the 2009 F1 season]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/bmw-gives-up-on-kers-for-the-remainder-of-the-2009-f1-season/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/bmw-gives-up-on-kers-for-the-remainder-of-the-2009-f1-season/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/bmw-gives-up-on-kers-for-the-remainder-of-the-2009-f1-season/#commentsFiled under: , ,



After using its KERS hybrid system on and off through the first half of the 2009 Formula One season, the BMW-Sauber team has decided enough is enough. The team will shelve the system through the remainder of the year while it focuses on aerodynamic development. In spite of the utter lack of success using the kinetic energy recovery systems this year, team boss Mario Theissen said the development process has been useful for the company's production hybrids. Lessons learned in developing the electric hybrid system on the race cars has been transferred to engineers working on the upcoming 750h mild hybrid and X6 two-mode hybrid.

BMW isn't totally giving up on the system though, having voted to retain KERS for future seasons. Under the current rules, there are not enough performance benefits from KERS and Thiessen says that unless KERS is mandatory for all cars, it will likely be dropped by all teams.

[Source: F1-Live]

BMW gives up on KERS for the remainder of the 2009 F1 season originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmw sauberBmwSauberf1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnekerskinetic energykinetic energy recovery systemkineticenergykineticenergyrecov...KineticEnergyRecoverySystemMon, 22 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[F1 teams vote to scrap KERS in 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/f1-teams-vote-to-scrap-kers-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/f1-teams-vote-to-scrap-kers-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/08/f1-teams-vote-to-scrap-kers-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: ,


Ferrari at the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's no secret that the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association are jointly interested in reducing the cost required to compete in F1 racing, and the FOTA has taken a step in that direction by resolving to abandon the use of the controversial kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) that are permissible but not mandatory for the 2009 season. According to reports, the vote to ban the hybrid powertrains was not unanimous, but a majority of teams have voted against the technology for 2010.

As it stands, only four of the ten teams taking part in the '09 season have actually used KERS in competition and only two, McLaren and Ferrari, used it last weekend at the Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul. This vote raises questions as to how F1 will promote environmental awareness in the absence of KERS-equipped powertrains.

Says McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh:
"F1 has to demonstrate that it has some green credentials, but at the same time, in this economic climate everybody is looking to save costs. It has been a huge effort talking about new entrants and making sure the smaller teams stay in F1. McLaren's position is we would like to see KERS retained - but we also accept that we have to be responsible members of the F1 community, and if the majority don't want to have KERS, or can't afford KERS at the moment, then we have to be realistic."

Gallery: 2009 Turkish Grand Prix


[Source: Crash.net | Photo: FRED DUFOUR/AFP/Getty Images]

F1 teams vote to scrap KERS in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1f1 kersF1Kersformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnekerskinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyRecoverySystemMon, 08 Jun 2009 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes engineer says KERS 'not relevant to road cars']]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/01/mercedes-engineer-says-kers-not-relevant-to-road-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/01/mercedes-engineer-says-kers-not-relevant-to-road-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/01/mercedes-engineer-says-kers-not-relevant-to-road-cars/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


McLaren MP4-24 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Of the ten teams competing in this year's Formula 1 championship, McLaren-Mercedes is the only one that's equipped both of its cars with a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) for every single race of the season. Whether the 60 kW power boost has helped or not is open to debate, but it's at least been active on both Lewis Hamilton's and Heikki Kovalainen's MP4-24 racers.

According to Autocar, McLaren-Mercedes' Formula 1 engineers developed and demonstrated two KERS systems, one mechanical unit using a flywheel to store power and one electric system using batteries or capacitors. An unnamed source within M-B's engineering department has reportedly said that neither KERS implementation is relevant for road cars at the moment.

Regardless of its lack of relevancy to Mercedes' road-going machinery, Anthony Sheriff, managing director at McLaren, says, "What's important is that it's pushing the envelope of battery technology to its limits and that has got to be good news."


Gallery: McLaren MP4-24


[Source: Autocar]

Mercedes engineer says KERS 'not relevant to road cars' originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 May 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kers hybridkers mercedeskers mercedes-benzKersHybridKersMercedesKersMercedes-benzkinetic energykinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyKineticEnergyRecoverySystemmclarenmclaren kersMclarenKersFri, 01 May 2009 13:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Confirmed: Ferrari testing hybrid powertrain in 599 prototype]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/04/confirmed-ferrari-testing-hybrid-powertrain-in-599-prototype/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/04/confirmed-ferrari-testing-hybrid-powertrain-in-599-prototype/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/04/confirmed-ferrari-testing-hybrid-powertrain-in-599-prototype/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Ferrari 599XX

One of the stated reasons that automakers send prototype race cars around tracks at high rates of speed is to further the development of new technology for their road-going automobiles. There's no higher form of automotive motorsport than Formula 1, so it stands to reason that fuel-saving advancements like the kinetic energy recovery hybrid systems that F1 is currently in the midst of implementing will someday make it to production cars. According to Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the Italian automaker is already testing its KERS system in a prototype based on the 599 chassis.

There's some speculation that the Dale Earnhardt edition 599XX at the Geneva Motor Show may have some form of the KERS system installed, but that's not confirmed. With this technology, energy that would otherwise be lost to braking can be stored and reused the next time the vehicle accelerates, thereby boosting both performance and efficiency, and that's something we can all get behind.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ferrari 599xx


[Source: Motor Authority]

Confirmed: Ferrari testing hybrid powertrain in 599 prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobloggreenferrariferrari 599xxferrari hybridFerrari599xxFerrariHybridgenevageneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowkerskinetic energykinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyKineticEnergyRecoverySystemWed, 04 Mar 2009 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW Sauber discovers cause of KERS shock]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/bmw-sauber-discovers-cause-of-kers-shock/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/bmw-sauber-discovers-cause-of-kers-shock/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/bmw-sauber-discovers-cause-of-kers-shock/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

According to Team BMW Sauber, it has "concluded their investigations into the KERS incident at Jerez." Incident? You mean that time when one of your mechanics was literally thrown to the ground after doing nothing more than touching your car? Right, that one. If you are truly interested in reading all of the techno-babble regarding why the experimental KERS hybrid system reached out and touched someone, click past the break for the details. Here are the highlights: It was an accident. The KERS control unit malfunctioned. Nobody was seriously hurt and nobody was ever in any real danger (Dr Evil: Riiight...). Christian Klein, the driver, was insulated from any shocks due to his race suit and gloves.

BMW Sauber has apparently fixed the problem and feels confident that it will be ready to continue testing in the Autumn. Recently, the BMW team voted in favor of running the KERS hybrid system for next year's race season, so it'll have to be ready to go sooner rather than later.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW Sauber discovers cause of KERS shock

BMW Sauber discovers cause of KERS shock originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmw sauberBmwSauberflywheelformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnekerskers shockKersShockkinetic energykinetic energy recov...kinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyKineticEnergyRecov...KineticEnergyRecoverySystemFri, 22 Aug 2008 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari split as Formula One goes hybird]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/ferrari-split-as-formula-one-goes-hybird/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/ferrari-split-as-formula-one-goes-hybird/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/23/ferrari-split-as-formula-one-goes-hybird/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Formula One is going hybrid starting next year, according to statements released by the sport's governing body the FIA. The Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) will be phased in over a period of several years, starting with the 2009 season and culminating with the full-fledged implementation by 2013. The system works essentially by storing energy expelled under braking, which can then be used via a "push-to-pass"-style button mounted on the steering wheel that drivers can employ for an extra power boost.

The reaction within the Ferrari team, meanwhile, has been mixed. Vice-president Piero Ferrari - Enzo's son who owns 10% of the company - railed against the idea, saying it goes against the FIA's cost-cutting measures and will cost the teams inestimable sums of money to develop. Former driver Michael Schumacher, meanwhile, who remains close to the team, voiced his support for the system, saying that road cars and the environment will reap the benefits. All the while, Ferrari prepares to sell its system to other teams, starting with Force India, which, alongside Scuderia Toro Rosso, already buys its engines from Ferrari.

[Source: Autoblog Green and F1-Live]

Ferrari split as Formula One goes hybird originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f1 hybridf1 kersF1HybridF1Kersferrari kersFerrariKersformula one kers hybridFormulaOneKersHybridkerskinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyRecoverySystemschumacher kersSchumacherKersWed, 23 Apr 2008 16:29:00 EST