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BMW quits F1 to focus on alternative drivetrains and sustainability

The costs of competing in Formula One and trying to develop alternative power trains for its future production vehicles are proving to be too much for BMW. The German automaker has announced its intention to follow Honda and quit Formula One at the end of the current season. BMW has never said publicly how much it spends on its F1 involvement, but it is likely several hundred million dollars annually. In a statement issued by CEO Dr. Norbert Reuther, the company announced it would re-focus its resources on alternative power train ... Read more →

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

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 ...

Formula One teams alliance votes to ban KERS in 2010 Sam Abuelsamid

The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) voted this past weekend to push for a ban on kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) in 2010. While it wasn't a unanimous vote, a majority of the eight teams ...

Only four cars to run KERS at Monaco Grand Prix Sam Abuelsamid

The ongoing debate among Formula one teams over whether to run kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) continues as those teams head to the streets of Monaco this weekend. While as many as eight cars ...

Renault still using KERS this weekend, wants it banned for 2010 Sam Abuelsamid

The Formula One circus has landed in Bahrain this weekend and the controversies surrounding kinetic energy recovery systems are continuing. Four of ten teams are apparently using KERS this week ...

Three races in, Formula One teams already abandoning KERS 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

Apparently, hybrid drive systems aren't catching on in Formula 1 this year. The new 2009 rules allowed, but did not require the addition of hybrid systems called KERS or kinetic energy recovery systems. Over the course of the 2008 season, teams spent time developing and testing KERS with varying ...

KERS has mixed results in Formula One debut 8 months ago on Autoblog Green

Today's 2009 Formula One season opener in Australia marked the debut of kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) in the sport. Unfortunately, this first use of the new hybrid drive systems had mixed results. Only seven of the twenty cars on the grid were running with KERS and, in qualifying, the top ...

Williams F1 team running flywheel-based KERS for 2009 9 months ago on Autoblog Green

While most of the big teams in Formula One, including Ferrari, Renault and BMW, are planning to run battery electric Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) on their 2009 cars, the Williams team is following a different path. One of the few remaining independent teams, Williams has opted for a ...

Branson wants to buy Honda team only if F1 goes green and cuts costs 10 months ago on Autoblog Green

Richard Branson would like to go racing with his Virgin brand that is known around the world. The withdrawal of Honda from Formula One at the close of 2008 provided a perfect opportunity to pick up all the pieces that are needed on the cheap. But you don't get to be as wealthy as Sir Richard by ...

F1 engineer believes that KERS safety issues can be fixed before 2009 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

In recent weeks there have been several safety related incidents during the development and testing of the new kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) that will be rolled out in Formula 1 in 2009. Teams are working along two different development paths with some pursuing a mechanical flywheel based ...

KERS Formula 1 hybrid system will not be delayed 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

The Kinetic Energy Recovery System will indeed be affixed to the powertrains of Formula 1 cars in 2009. The issue of whether the hybrid system should be delayed was recently brought up, with Renault calling a meeting of all the teams together to discuss the problem. It seems that BMW, Honda and ...

Formula 1 could adopt ethanol to go with hybrid drive 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

Formula 1 teams are already preparing to introduce hybrid drive systems to cars beginning in 2009 and that could soon be followed by a change in fuels. Since the mid-nineties teams have been required to use fuels that were roughly comparable to pump gasoline with a maximum octane rating of 102 RON ...

Most promising green technologies number seven: flywheels 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

There have been many cases where racing technology has made its way down the ladder right into the cars that we use to drive to work. Flywheels could be the next such advancement. The pinnacle of racing motorsports, Formula 1, is investigating the possibility of using flywheels for energy storage. ...

Formula One to phase in Kinetic Energy Recovery System from 2009-2013 1 year ago on Autoblog Green

FIA President Max Mosely has sent a letter to Formula One teams outlining the plans for phasing in hybrid systems in the sport. Beginning in 2009, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) will be integrated into the transmissions of F1 cars. The KERS is a mechanical system that captures kinetic ...

Formula One hybrid racing coming in 2010 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

The German car magazine Auto, Motor and Sports reports Formula One racing will use hybrid cars by 2010. It seems FIA boss Max Mosley finally got a deal for the greener races. A lot of technology that we see in cars today was developed on the race track, and we can only imagine what this new F1 ...

Information on the hybrid Formula 1 drivetrain from Torotrak and Xtrac 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

We have often brought up the fact that the Formula 1 racing series, and their sanctioning body the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), would like to showcase improved efficiency and use technology that is more relevant to the cars that are actually driven on the street. Honda has taken ...

New hybrid transmission for Formula One cars revealed 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

For the past several years the governing body of Formula One racing has been pondering rule changes that would, among other things, make the sport more environmentally friendly. One of the proposals that has popped up several times is using hybrid drivetrains. Transmission builders Torotrak and ...

Formula One could have biofuel turbo V-6s in 2011 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

The sanctioning body for Formula One racing, the FIA, is currently examining options for new engine rules for 2011 and beyond. Over the past year they've been throwing out various proposals including hybrid powertrains. The latest proposal is a switch from the current 2.4L V-8 formula to 2.2L ...

Ricardo appointed as "Green" consultant to Formula One 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

For the past several years the FIA has been struggling with the technical rules for Formula One racing, trying to cut speeds, and the enormous cost of competing in the sport. They have also been trying to find ways to make the sport relevant and incorporate technology that would actually benefit ...

Honda Racing F1 team offsets their Australian Formula One Grand Prix CO2 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

Click the photo for a high-res gallery of the 2007 Honda F1 car With the Australian Formula One Grand Prix going over the weekend, all the crews were in Melbourne for the start of the 2007 F1 season including the Honda Racing F1 team which has "My Earth Dream" livery this year. In a move to offset ...

Sports Illustrated tackles global warming; points to athletes making a difference 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

A recent issue of Sports Illustrated examined how global warming is affecting sports and athletes. The TV show Living on Earth this week interviewed the story's co-author, David Epstein, and features a transcript on its website. Some of the more obvious concerns involve heat exhaustion or Nordic ...

Honda F1 confirms plan to promote environmental awareness with 2007 livery 2 years ago on Autoblog Green

Click on the photo for a high-res gallery of the Honda F1 "Earth" livery As was reported a couple of days ago, 2007 Honda RA107 Formula One cars will feature an Earth themed livery. Instead of being plastered with logos promoting corporate sponsors, the car will feature an image of our pale blue ...

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