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[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[VIDEO: Shocking! See F1 mechanic getting zapped by KERS system]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/video-shocking-see-f1-mechanic-getting-zapped-by-kers-system/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/video-shocking-see-f1-mechanic-getting-zapped-by-kers-system/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/30/video-shocking-see-f1-mechanic-getting-zapped-by-kers-system/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Follow the jump to watch the video

Anybody who wants to know why Formula 1 teams are reconsidering using the Kinetic Energy Recovery System, or KERS need only watch the video embedded after the jump. So far, there have been two incidents of KERS failures, the first requiring the U.K. Red Bull team to make a call to the local Fire Department and the second, as seen in the video, sending a BMW mechanic to the ground. The KERS system recovers energy that would be lost to braking so that it can be reused on the next straightaway. We aren't in the business of finding enjoyment from the suffering of others, but since the mechanic was basically unharmed, let this be a reminder that high voltage hurts. Yowzah! Thanks for the tip, Lachlan!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Shocking! See F1 mechanic getting zapped by KERS system

VIDEO: Shocking! See F1 mechanic getting zapped by KERS system originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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