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F1 KERS? how does it work?
blakep82 - 26/4/09 at 12:57 PM

anyone know?
where does the extra 80bhp come from? is it some sort of electric motor or something?

omega0684 - 26/4/09 at 01:00 PM

your wish is my command my friend

KERS Explained

coozer - 26/4/09 at 01:05 PM

Motogp 125cc bikes have an alternative system.

They have an electric motor connected to the crank, when they shut off to brake into corners the motor charges a capacitor and when they whack the throttle open it drives the motor giving the, extra torque and bhp drive out of the corner.

Its a simple good system and not long before it hits the road IMO

blakep82 - 26/4/09 at 01:08 PM

a flywheel at 64000 rmp?!
nothing more than those little cars you used to get in kinder eggs then?

i started to wonder if the alternator on a car could so something similar, but i guess the size and weight of the aletnator needed would rule it out.

was thinking that since an alternator is really just a motor, could it be used to charge batteries/capacitors as they do anyway, and then used to give the engine a boost now and then as an electric motor

StevieB - 26/4/09 at 02:04 PM

quote:
Originally posted by coozer
Motogp 125cc bikes have an alternative system.

They have an electric motor connected to the crank, when they shut off to brake into corners the motor charges a capacitor and when they whack the throttle open it drives the motor giving the, extra torque and bhp drive out of the corner.

Its a simple good system and not long before it hits the road IMO


BMW have been doing it as an option on the the latest 3 Series, though I don't think it's got quite the efficiency of the F1 units (yet).

Now that it's in F1, it'll develop the technology faster due to the big budgets available for R&D, then filter through lesser formula's and onto road cars eventually.

Flamez - 26/4/09 at 02:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by coozer

Its a simple good system and not long before it hits the road IMO


It already has 12 months ago;

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/efficient_dynamics/bc/homepage/0,,___,00.html?bcsource=nationaltop

richmars - 26/4/09 at 03:52 PM

That f1fanatic link is mostly about mechanical system. Most F1 teams use electrical systems.
These have a hybrid motor/generator linked to the engine or transmission which either charges a battary or works as an motor, using the charge from the battery.
I think the Williams system (which I don't think is in use yet) uses a flywheel as an energy store, which is spun up electrically. This also uses a hybrid motor/generator.