Autoblog

Volvo testing F1-style KERS system, cites 25% fuel economy bump [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST

Volvo has been experimenting with flywheel propulsion systems since the eighties, but only recently has technology caught up with the possibility of real-world applications. In 2011, the Swedish carmaker was granted 6.57 million Swedish kronor (about $1M US) by the Swedish Energy Agency to work on a kinetic energy recovery system with Swedish bearing company SKF. Before it began trials, Volvo expected the fuel savings to be as high as 20 percent. After trials conducted last year on public roads the results were even better, Volvo finding that a KERS-equipped four-cylinder turbo performs like a six-cylinder turbo but gets up to 25-percent better fuel economy. It calls KERS "a light, cheap and very eco-efficient solution."

The test vehicle was an S60, its ICE driving the front wheels while the KERS - weighing six kilograms, measuring about 20 centimeters across and using a carbon fiber flywheel - was attached to the rear axle. Under braking, the four-cylinder engine is shut off and the KERS gathers rotational energy, spinning at up to 60,000 revolutions per minute. The stored energy is then used to get the car going again or to assist at cruising speeds. It's the same kind of vacuum-sealed flywheel design used by Audi in its R18 etron quattro, but with the opposite arrangement - in the Audi the diesel V6 drives the rear wheels, the KERS drives the front wheels.

Like the units in Formula One, it provides an additional 80 horsepower. When working with the four-cylinder ICE, the S60 with KERS can do the 0-62 mph dash in 5.5 seconds, a full 1.1 seconds faster than the S60 with the 3.0-liter T6 engine and all-wheel drive.

As we expect with hybrids, the greatest fuel savings came in urban environments with a lot of braking, Volvo suggesting that the combustion engine could be shut down "about half the time" on the New European Driving Cycle. A press release below has more details, along with a video Volvo released in 2011 to show how its system works.

Continue reading Volvo testing F1-style KERS system, cites 25% fuel economy bump [w/video]

Volvo testing F1-style KERS system, cites 25% fuel economy bump [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hi-po Toyota GT86 to get KERS?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Technology, Scion, Subaru, Toyota

We happen to like the Toyota GT86 - and, it of course goes without saying that the same applies to the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S, as well - just the way it is. Yes, that includes the standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine and its 200 horsepower at 7,000 rpm.

That said, a little extra power never hurt anybody, right?

The most obvious way to add some punch to the GT86 would be with a turbocharger, and that has indeed long been rumored for an STI version of the BRZ. Will Toyota follow suit? According to Top Gear, the answer is no. Says GT86 chief engineer Tetsuya Tada, "I think 300bhp with a turbo and 200g/km of CO2 would be tasteless in this day and age. And a turbo would mean the loss of the GT86's uniqueness." Perhaps a bit harsh, but there you go.

If no turbo, how will Toyota add some punch to its sports car? Possibly with a supercharger? Perhaps not. "We're looking at a next-generation hybrid. More like the TS030 Le Mans Prototype," says the engineer. If you'll recall, the TS030 uses a hybrid engine with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System, more commonly known as KERS.

Even more intriguingly, Tetsuya confirmed that there is a GT86 prototype already fitted with a hybrid KERS system, though it's unclear if it is using capacitors or batteries to contain the recaptured energy. Either way, our interest is most definitely piqued.

Hi-po Toyota GT86 to get KERS? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pininfarina P4/5 Competizione going hybrid?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Hybrid, Ferrari, Design/Style, Racing

Race cars are going hybrid these days. Formula One racers store regenerated brake energy. Porsche packs a flywheel into the 911 GT3 R. Just the other day, Toyota unveiled its new TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype. And now even Jim Glickenhaus' one-off Ferrari-powered, Pininfarina-designed P4/5 Competizione is said to be getting a hybrid powertrain.

Emerging reports from Europe indicate that the GT prototype is preparing to return to the Nürburgring-based VLN series, but this time, it'll be packing some electric boost. That bit is tipped to come from a system provided by Magneti Marelli that's similar to the Kinetic Energy Recovery System it developed for Scuderia Ferrari for use in F1. The 4.0-liter V8 will continue providing principal motivation, but the added jolt of power could be just what the team needs to conquer the Green Hell with green(er) propulsion.

Pininfarina P4/5 Competizione going hybrid? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McLaren F1 successor to pack KERS into clean-sheet design

Noah Joseph — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Technology, UK, MISC

If you were impressed by the MP4-12C, well, you should be. It's an otherworldly performance machine. But we ain't seen nothing yet from McLaren Automotive, which is gearing up to launch an even more capable supercar.

Whereas the 12C is targeted at the Ferrari 458 Italia, the next project down the pipeline is more along the lines of a successor to the iconic McLaren F1, a car to rival the likes of the Bugatti Veyron and Pagani Huayra - that elite class of million-dollar hypercar you're not likely to see anywhere but on Rodeo Drive, at the Monte Carlo harborfront or a closed-off section of highway along the Persian Gulf.

According to the UK's CAR magazine, McLaren is expected to employ a version of the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 developed for the 12C, but with 799 horsepower on tap and one crucial addition: Kenetic Energy Recovery System, a.k.a. KERS. That could make the vehicle codenamed P12 (following the P11 handle carried by the 12C while in development) one of the first supercars to use the system designed for Formula 1 and currently being developed for road use by Ferrari, Porsche and Jaguar for their upcoming supercars.

Early prototypes reportedly incorporated a big red KERS boost button on a steering wheel closer in size and shape to an F1 cockpit's than a conventional rim, but if you were hoping for a 1+2 seating arrangement with central driving position like in the original McLaren F1, we'll have to stop you right there, as the packaging of such a layout reportedly proved prohibitive for the new P12.

As dynamically polished as the 12C emerged, its design was derided as somewhat derivative. That's largely because McLaren didn't bring celebrated designer Frank Stephenson on board until the car's design was already pretty much finalized. This reportedly being Stephenson's first clean-sheet design since arriving at McLaren HQ in Woking, we're expecting big things when the P12 debuts sometime this year.

McLaren F1 successor to pack KERS into clean-sheet design originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team Lotus renews deal with Renault, gets Red Bull KERS

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Lotus, Renault

Glancing down the F1 roster this year has lead to a little confusion for many. That's because there are two teams that lay claim to the Lotus name, and they're both powered by Renault. The French automaker and engine supplier is stuck in the middle of the naming-rights tug-of-war, but if you were hoping things might be clarified for next season, don't hold your breath. Because while the real Lotus continues its partnership with Renault over one team (the one in the black and gold in the middle of the pack), Renault has also renewed its partnership with the other Lotus (the one in the green and yellow near the back of the field).

The agreement between Team Lotus and Renault Sport F1 will see the two collaborating (read: the former buying engines from the latter) for another couple of seasons until the end of 2013, and leaves the door open for further collaboration when the new engine regulations take effect. But the new deal also brings Red Bull into the fold, the championship team providing Team Lotus with the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) for the first time since it began racing a couple of years ago.

The inclusion of Red Bull's KERS in the engine package not only gives Team Lotus a chance at advancing up the grid from its current backmarker position to challenge the teams that already have it farther upfield. But it also further cements Red Bull's position as Renault's premier team in place of the other Lotus team that was once the French company's factory outfit.

Continue reading Team Lotus renews deal with Renault, gets Red Bull KERS

Team Lotus renews deal with Renault, gets Red Bull KERS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maserati to follow Ferrari down path of hybrid sportscars?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, Maserati, Rumormill, Luxury

What's the world coming to when two of Italy's most storied supercar manufacturers - we're talking Ferrari and Lamborghini here, in case you couldn't tell - are planning to launch hybrid automobiles? Well, actually that'd be three of Italy's most storied automakers, now that rumors of just such a Maserati are making the rounds on the Interwebs.

We'd agree with the boys at Inside Line when they suggest that Maserati will likely borrow hybrid technology from fellow Fiat-owned Ferrari, especially since the two business units already share a number of drivetrain components. If that's the case, the three-pointed Trident brand could potentially get a version of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS for short) that Ferrari showed off on its 599 HY-KERS earlier this week at the Geneva Motor Show.

Word has it that Maserati is also joining Ferrari in its quest to shed a few unwanted pounds on its automobiles, which will have dual benefits for both brands - namely, improvements in both performance and fuel efficiency. Now there's a win-win scenario if we've ever heard one.

[Source: Inside Line]

Maserati to follow Ferrari down path of hybrid sportscars? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videos: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid uses Williams F1 flywheel KERS

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Porsche, Racing

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

The hybrid drive system being used by Porsche in its new 911 GT3 R isn't what you find in your average Prius or Fusion. Instead of a battery for energy storage, the 911 will use an electro-mechanical flywheel. The system being used was actually developed by the Williams formula one team and its Williams Hybrid Power subsidiary.

The system is comprised of an electrically driven flywheel and a motor/generator on the gearbox. During braking the gearbox mounted generator drives the flywheel to spin it up to 40,000 rpm. When needed for extra acceleration, the flywheel drives its integrated motor/generator to spin provide power back to the unit on the gearbox.

In the case of the 911, a pair motor generators are actually on the front wheels instead of the single unit on the gearbox as it was on the Williams F1 car last year. This provides more regenerative braking capability as well as all wheel drive.

The flywheel itself is made of a composite material that is infused with magnetic particles when it is being molded. This actually acts as the permanent magnet for the motor, helping to keep the overall weight down. The result is a very efficient system with less mass than a battery system and the ability to absorb energy more rapidly than a battery similar to an ultracapaitor. Like ultracapacitors the downside for automotive applications is limited energy storage capacity.

As a result, electric driving is limited meaning that this really behaves more like a mild hybrid system than a strong hybrid. However, the power output is closer to what is available from most strong hybrids. Williams Hybrid Power is working with a number of automakers on implementing its flywheel system although only Porsche has been publicly identified. Porsche's has setup a microsite for its new Hybrid racecar, and for more details, make the jump for the release and a video explaining the system, along with two promo videos.

Gallery: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

[Source: Williams Hybrid Power]

Continue reading Videos: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid uses Williams F1 flywheel KERS

Videos: Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid uses Williams F1 flywheel KERS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ferrari to show 599 hybrid concept in Geneva

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari

Italian pub, Quattroroute reports Ferrari will show its first road-going hybrid next March at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on the 599 GTB, the Ferrari hybrid is expected to use a derivative of the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) used on the prancing horse's Formula One cars during part of the 2009 season.

The KERS setup and the concept will reportedly use a lithium ion battery pack, and based on the diagram (right) the road car will have the battery and the power electonics mounted on either side of the rear transaxle, with an electric motor incorporated into the transaxle itself. If the road car is similar to the race car, this will essentially be a mild hybrid system providing automatic start-stop, regenerative braking and electric boost. Judging by the battery size, Ferrari won't offer any pure electric propulsion. The system is expected to boost urban driving mileage by over 30 percent from the current 8.7 mpg (US) to a slightly less miserable 13.8 mpg.

Thanks to Daniele for the tip!

[Source: Quattroroute]

Report: Ferrari to show 599 hybrid concept in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW gives up on KERS for the remainder of the 2009 F1 season

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Green, BMW

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.

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F1 teams vote to scrap KERS in 2010

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Green

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.

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Mercedes engineer says KERS 'not relevant to road cars'

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Green, Mercedes-Benz

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.

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Confirmed: Ferrari testing hybrid powertrain in 599 prototype

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:39:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show, Green, Supercars, Ferrari

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.

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BMW Sauber discovers cause of KERS shock

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Green, Safety, BMW

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.

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Ferrari split as Formula One goes hybird

Noah Joseph — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Green, Technology, Ferrari

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.

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