Formula One to introduce hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System in 2009

While it's not exactly enough to turn Formula One green, the racing league at least looks to be taking some steps in that direction, with it now announcing that it plans to phase in a new hybrid transmission system starting in 2009. Unlike hybrid systems found in regular cars, however, the so-called Kinetic Energy Recovery System (or KERS) doesn't store up energy in a battery, but instead captures kinetic energy during vehicle deceleration using a flywheel mechanism. That apparently not only makes it particularly well-suited to Formula One cars due to their repeated deceleration, but also has the added benefit of being significantly lighter than a battery-based hybrid system, with it adding just 55 pounds to the weight of the car. Not surprisingly, however, the phase-in won't exactly happen overnight, with it set to extend out until 2013, during which time it'll also be tied to other changes aimed at reducing the size and output of the engines.

[Via Autoblog Green]

[webon @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:56PM]

They should also pay attention to the recycling of their tires, they use a shit load of 'em

[couchpundit @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:56PM]

Photo caption: Dude. If Rube Goldberg made a penis pump...

[nxtiak @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:24PM]

Dang it, was going to say something about a Penis Pump!

[Stem $ell @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:57PM]

This strikes me a bit like Monica Lewinski losing a pound-and-a-half then claiming she's Twiggy's twin...

[phanbouy @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:02PM]

Twiggy Pop?

[Magallanes @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:03PM]

Formula 1 was good when they did test and bring new technologies but they changed the rules, disallowing the use of any "driving assisting" gadgets, so may be they are turning back in this aspect.

[kyoseki @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:49PM]

I could have sworn the Benetton team were fined for using a device like this in the 90s.

[Tom @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:05PM]

It's been a while since I've done physics, but wouldn't a heavy, rapidly spinning contraption inside the car change the angular momentum of the car and making turning more difficult? Just curious.

[Andy @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:09PM]

there is going to a torque on this new device, but i am sure they already thought of that and are bracing it properly. but with the current size of the cars, and what i imagine this device to be, its not going to be big enough to affect any of the moments on the cars. remember they regularly cycle through 1-+3.5g forces on the cars.

[andy @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:04PM]

No.

Most "fly wheels" in use are actually 3 angularly displaced flywheels. that is, they use more than one in a single package (vaccum enclosure) such that the net force from "the flywheel" is zero.

At least that's how the locomotive ones are made/ordered.

[Andy @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:07PM]

@webon - I think that after the races the tires are sent back to Michelin or Bridgestone for testing and stuff. what they do with them, well i hope they get shreaded and made into some nice high school running tracks or something.

as an engineer into F1 and renewable energy, I have been wondering how this sport was going to fare in the new energy conscious world. I am happy to see that they are starting to move in this direction.

but reducing the engine size? i love the feel when the cars co screaming by full throttle. progress is progress...

[Juaquin @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:20PM]

I agree with Andy - a little bit of hybrid power that increases performance is great, but reducing the car's engine output and performance is pretty weak. Pretty soon they'll be Nascar, limiting the amount of air you're allowed to put in your engine and all kinds of stupid artificial limitations that essentially keep the sport stuck the same way for a decade.

[Nando @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:20PM]

@Magallanes...

While I somewhat agree with Formula1 being one of the most technologically advanced (if not THE) sports, I must agree with the FIA and disallowing any drive assist technology.

While there must be some technology in the development of the engines, transmission, brakes, the sport was initially and should truly remain a sport of the driver. So by making the driver more responsible for control of the car (particularly during take off with the loss of launch control), I have actually enjoyed things more. It's putting things BACK on the driver and still making it an enjoyable sport...

That's my two cents anyway...

And M.Schumacher is still the best damn driver....and Ferrari, the best damn engine out there too! (another two cents...hehe)

[letstakeawalk @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:23PM]

The flywheel incorporation reminds me of Chrysler's 1993 Patriot race car prototype.

http://www.allpar.com/model/patriot.html

[Sean @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:29PM]

Oh yeah, I'm real sure they're doing this for the environment. I feel fairly certain this has nothing to do with going green. It's just a way to capture some of that lost energy and increase acceleration.

[orpheus @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:00PM]

ORLY?!

See, I thought the next step was vegetable oil fuel and solar panels all over the cars. I for one will cheer madly as the racers rocket by me at a blistering 12.5 mph.

[Mr. S. @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:39PM]

Shoot, now i'm going to have to start burning even more gas to make up for all the carbon they will be saving. I guess I'll go do burnouts now. See ya guys, i'll be back in a bit!

P.S. Bernie is runining F1

[anti riaa @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:50PM]

I agree Bernie is destroying F1 with all of the rules. This system is interesting but I don't care if F1 cars are "green."

[luke @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:52PM]

Mr. S. It's true Bernie isn't doing the sport and tradition a favor by moving to new tracks in far away countries. However he is not the one that decides on a lot of these crap limitations which tame the racing action, Mr Nazi Orgy would be to blame for that I think.

[BlowURmindBowel @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:11PM]

I was hoping it would be a compressed air system, allowing for momentary high psi "boosts" (fed into turbo) when exiting a corner... Cause what else would the air tank looking 'penis pump' portion of the illustration be used for?

But flywheels are cool too, I guess...

[Pdexter @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:32PM]

Heh yeah it might have something to do with being all enviroment friendky, but at least looking at this years night race and all those lights they are building for it.... well lets say that i dont think F1 is at least yet moving that direction and i think it's fine. As long as it keeps to be the ultimate motorsport with the tech and with those Euros they are throwing to the sport it should stay like that for long time. Thought i cant wait till next season when those clean F1 cars should come some of the manufacturers have gone a bit too far with the aeros(yes i'm looking at you Honda and those bunny ears).
Forza Ferrari! Kimi!

[tired @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:36PM]

lol the image :D CAD Design (CAD = computer aided design). see whats wrong?^^

[AL @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:12PM]

F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport engineering. Whilst the drivers are the face of the team, there is so much that goes into developing and preparing a F1 car. The sport has always been about technology and how we use it. Yes, the driver is important, but it has always been a team effort to get that car to the finish line first. As for driver assistance, I agree that this should be restricted, because there always needs to be a challenge of how much a person can extract from the technology on a track.

As a F1 fan, I want them to go further - send the challenge out, develop an alternative clean energy powerplant to race, have a regulation that enforces a maximum pollutant level. The formula needs to open up and allow for any type of clean energy - get rid of gasoline. When the sport had a less restrictive formula not long ago, you saw variations of powerplants (V8 vs V10 vs V12) that made the whole sport interesting because you were really involved in how the teams developed their technology (and salivating at the prospect of the technology flowing down into your own car in the future). Tightening the regulations just makes all the cars the same with only a few minor differences. I want to see the imagination of engineers open up to all the possibilities. Let's give the brightest engineers the chance to develop something wonderful for all of us.

One day we could see a new Cosworth-like company develop a great powerplant. It could also allow for new racing teams to enter by bringing in a new technology that has been developed by pioneers (like it was in the 60's and 70's) - the cost to join F1 is so prohibitive now that only large manufacturers have the resources to do it.

What else is on my list:
- Make the parts recyclable, to the extent that X% of the car has to be recyclable for alternative use of the material.
- Reduce carbon footprint - all teams should have a carbon limit. Think of all the flying they do around the world - I know it's not avoidable, but how about keeping a limit on it by reducing the amount of people and parts that get moved around? This could also arrest the cost of F1.

A good start F1, but let's do more.

[Ray @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:28PM]

This is a great step in the right direction, which will eventually trickle down to consumer products. Formula 1 helped bring carbon fiber to the automotive world as well as many systems that are currently taken for granted.

[Wwhat @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:33PM]

I'm surprised about the familiarity the engadget commenters have with 'penis pumps', because I have never seen such a contraption myself.
Excuse me if I'll end up drawing conclusions.

[TRLK @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:38PM]

Well, F1 isn't really about gadgets isn't it? Driving skill? Too many gadgets will blur the line between man and machine

[apeguero @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:41PM]

So I guess F1 drivers will now be asked to lose 55lbs from their already svelte bodies :)

[Temple @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:44PM]

>>Unlike hybrid systems found in regular cars, however, the so-called Kinetic Energy Recovery System (or KERS) doesn't store up energy in a battery, but instead captures kinetic energy during vehicle deceleration using a flywheel mechanism.

F1 2009 regulation doesn't require the use of flywheel only.

KERS allows for energy to be stored in either mechanical or electrical form. F1 Racing Magazine has a recent article on it, supposedly, F1 teams like Toyota, Honda, and Ferrari are going the electrical route. The batteries weight will essentially be replacing the weight ballast on the cars. So it should weight the same, however, several teams are calling for a increase in the minimum weight requirement.

[SoreThumb @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:55PM]

2013? Will we be using gasoline by then anyways?

I swear, I'll be an old man before they're finally up to green standards. Lame.

[Al @ Apr 23rd 2008 6:30PM]

I love Formula 1, but I think the KERS move with green motives is a bit... eh. That's because the cars on the track aren't the biggest contributors to F1's non-green-ness. What about all of the transports, trucks, freight flights, passenger flights, generators, etc. that the teams use during a weekend, not to mention testing. Also, there are still hundreds of thousands of people who drive to the events each weekend. Making those elements of the sport greener would have a better overall effect (and less controversial) than introducing non-traditional elements to an already cluttered formula.

[loz Trowell @ Apr 23rd 2008 7:00PM]

f1 has been carbon neutral now for nearly ten years. a lot of people arent aware of this but its a sport thats been aware of the dangers of climate change long before the current media coverage.

granted its carbon neutral by offsetting its footprint, but I dont know of any other sports that can make this claim

[cheater @ Apr 23rd 2008 7:24PM]

Nuke the whales. I think that they should grease the axles on these cars with Al Gore's blood. As far as a carbon footprint? I'm guessing that a steel mill burns more carbon in producing the roll cage on one of these cars than they will ever save by switching over.

[senninha @ Apr 23rd 2008 7:33PM]

ok for what its worth, this is very, very old news. the kers system have been on the agenda for quite some time... what's next, a post that they may be returning to slicks? this is the pinnacle of technology... c'mon engadget, you should have been on this months ago! and for what its worth, to the comment tom made about it decreasing the ability to turn... modern formula 1 cars are often built way below their 600kg minimum weight requirement. thus, f1 teams often add ballast to bring their cars up to the weight limit. therefore, they have plenty of room to work with, this will just give them difficulties because they will have to work out the balance of the car without using as much ballast. i'm sorry if i sound kind of preachy... i am a mechanical engineer, and formula 1 is my life :)

[nikster @ Apr 24th 2008 11:35PM]

Well - I did appreciate the update, I had no idea.

I find flywheels extremely fascinating as a way to store energy. I guess only practical / mechanical problems make them be _not_ the preferred way of storing excess energy. I was thinking of getting a generator + using the creek going by my house to get some electricity back, but maintaining a couple of very large lead-acid batteries just doesn't strike me as a good idea.... flywheels would be much cooler.

[Chris @ Apr 24th 2008 6:39AM]

This doesn't have to be about making the cars completely green. As with many things in F1, it's about developing new technology that will find it's way into road cars in the future, where it will make a big difference. Unlike the eco-disaster that is the Prius.

And anyway, isn't the pro-golf tour known to be significantly LESS green than F1?

@cheater : Steel? Roll cage? You're kidding, right?