Honda Formula 1 team making progress in testing of KERS system
Formula One teams are continuing to develop their KERS hybrid drive systems in preparation for a 2009 season launch. This week, the Honda F1 team wrapped up its 2008 testing allotment at the Jerez track in Spain with a day of running the kinetic energy recovery system. Test driver Alex Wurz seemed to be pleased with the team's progress "Today we ran our KERS system which was a very interesting and promising experience. Every time that we run with KERS, we learn more and start to fully understand its possibilities." It's not known if Honda is using an electric or mechanical flywheel based KERS system, but it sounds like they are making some progress in understanding the performance characteristics of the system. 2009 could turn out to be a very interesting season with KERS becoming a big equalizer among the teams.
[Source: F1-Live]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Doug 10:38AM (9/22/2008)
I'd like more details about this "mechanical flywheel based KERS system." Seems that to store any reasonable amount of energy, the flywheel would need to have a relatively large rotational moment of inertia. That spinning flywheel would then affect handling due to conservation of angular momentum.
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Scott 10:51AM (9/22/2008)
I believe the system is a combination of a mechanical flywheel and some sort of transmission to avoid having that flywheel be really big. This article might be helpful:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2007/09/26/kers-technology-revealed/
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