KERS

[L500]

Kinetic Energy Recovery System. I can't wait. It can provide an additional 80bhp for 6.7 seconds per lap. Only McLaren are starting with it this weekend...

Heikki loves it in practice. Intersting to see how/when he uses it.

In 10 years time, our Euro wagons will probably be using this - result ;-)

Thoughts?

[berry100]

Mine has it already!!

It's called the M button in mine

[BoRED S2upid]

berry100 said:

Mine has it already!!

It's called the M button in mine

MGBGT has it as well, override button they call it. A very primative form but its there im sure.

[jayfish]

BMW Sauber are running one with and one without; Heidfeld with, Kubica without, Kers is heavy and Kubica with kers is putting too much weight in the car to be competitive apparently.
I also thought that Ferrari had commited to running it too

[Magog]

How exactly does the KERS system in F1 work. Do cars like the lexus hybrids not already have something like this?

[Mars]

Magog said:

How exactly does the KERS system in F1 work. Do cars like the lexus hybrids not already have something like this?

The rules allow for flywheels and electrical recovery/storage. Both, given the energies involved, could be seriously hazardous if they went wrong.

[IanMorewood]

Apparently BMW mechanics now wear rubber gloves and wellies for all pit stops on KERS equipped cars as they do occasionally discharge.

[thinfourth2]

L500 said:

In 10 years time, our Euro wagons will probably be using this - result ;-)

Thoughts?

You might be disappointed when you realise they already have them in euro wagons and its called a pious

[rigga]

IanMorewood said:

Apparently BMW mechanics now wear rubber gloves and wellies for all pit stops on KERS equipped cars as they do occasionally discharge.

Pit stops could be interesting at times then....

[SarlechS]

KERS aka NOS for F1.

[BigBen]

thinfourth2 said:

L500 said:

In 10 years time, our Euro wagons will probably be using this - result ;-)

Thoughts?

You might be disappointed when you realise they already have them in euro wagons and its called a pious

Except the system in the pious is quite a bit more advanced than that used in F1 thanks to F1 rulemakers!

[Paul_M3]

SarlechS said:

KERS aka NOS for F1.

That'd actually work quite well thinking about it.

Everybody has the same size bottle, and they can obviously use it how and when they want.

Not quite as 'environmentally aware' as developing KERS technology though!

[Magog]

Just been reading the wikipedia entry on flywheel energy storage, all sounds very interesting. Also very complicated and expensive and very advanced (magnetic bearings, miniature CVT's connected to drivetrains, composite flywheels), can't be doing a lot for saving money. Also don't know what the physics of throwing rotating flywheels in hubs around a track at masses of mph and cornering is. Both for the flywheel and for the cars stability.

Are some teams using flywheels and others using electrical systems then? Do teams not using KERS have some kind of ballast to offset the weight carried by the teams using KERS.

This should add a whole new extra dimension to the racing, and great to see Formula one being innovative as it should be. As someone pointed out though a flywheel letting go or massive amounts of electrical energy discharging could be pretty nasty.

[jayfish]

iirc only williams is playing with flywheels, the rest are going electrical

[RenesisEvo]

Magog said:

Are some teams using flywheels and others using electrical systems then? Do teams not using KERS have some kind of ballast to offset the weight carried by the teams using KERS.

Most are meant to be using electric, possibly save Williams.

There is no ballast per se - both cars have to be the same minimum weight. Not running KERS lets you have more control over where you put the ballast that gets you to the minimum weight limit, which can give handling advantages. You can't shift the KERS weight around, therefore the weight balance is invariably compromised a little.

[Jungles]

IanMorewood said:

Apparently BMW mechanics now wear rubber gloves and wellies for all pit stops on KERS equipped cars as they do occasionally discharge.

...and drivers have to jump of their cars like frogs.

[anonymous-user]

BoRED S2upid said:

berry100 said:

Mine has it already!!

It's called the M button in mine

MGBGT has it as well, override button they call it. A very primative form but its there im sure.

overdrive, an electrically selected higher final drive ratio, they often failed to work in typical MGB stylee.

Saw the Tesla Roadster at Goodwood the other day, the driver was making brum brum engine noises.

[zac510]

I'm quite interested in KERS too, but the 'push to pass' implementation is a bit bland. Theoretically they could use it as a 'push to save fuel economy' but the sprint race nature means they probably won't.

Endurance racing seems set to push the 'economy' aspect of KERS, while F1 will push the weight/mass aspect (ironically this part is perfect for road cars but most fans can't see it, despite their push for road-relevant technology) via the regulation the restricts maximum output.

Good to see it out on the track at the top level finally!

[dafeller]

jayfish said:

iirc only williams is playing with flywheels, the rest are going electrical

Honda developed a flywheel system which should be the system used by Brawn later in the year. The flywheel occupies an area in the fuel tank.

[The Riddler]

Just think i heard three teams are running it on both cars.

McLaren, Ferrari and BMW.

I may of heard wrong though.