Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS)

The world often complain of wasted energy and resources utilized far from the optimum capacity...which applies in the motor vehicle scene as well. Some couple of years ago, renowned global-leading car manufacturer, Toyota, led the innovative charge of energy recovering in vehicles by introducing the first true hybrid car, the Toyota Prius. Toyota Prius applies a Toyota-developed "Hybrid Synergy Drive" hybrid car technology which beat out the likes of Otto-cycled motor engines. Not long after Toyota's innovative successes, global automotive critics are quick to announce that "the future of commercial automobile technology is...hybrid!".

So...what's Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive got to do with KERS?

To look at KERS, first, we have to understand the meaning of the term "Regenerative Braking"

Regenerative braking, as it's name implies, is a working mechanism designed to convert kinetic energy off a moving vehicle into another form of energy while engaging in the decceleration process of vehicles. When a vehicle is reducing its speed, the vehicle's electric traction motor is operated as a generator during braking and its output is supplied to an electrical load. It is the transfer of energy to the load which provides the braking effect.

Now, a full look at KERS technology...

KERS is nothing more than just another hybrid systems, however it is so special because this hybrid systems is unique in one way: it is the first mechanical KERS hybrid technology only to be implemented in the world's leading motorsport, Formula One...for the time being, at least. The mechanical KERS systems utilizes battery & flywheel developed by Flybrid Systems to recover and store a moving vehicle’s kinetic energy which is otherwise wasted when the vehicle is decelerated. As the vehicles are subsequently released back into the driveline and the vehicle accelerates, energy recovered from the decceleration will then restored back to the engine as additional power boosts. The governing body of Formula One, the FIA, has defined the amount of energy recovery for the 2009 Formula One season as "400kJ per lap giving the driver an extra 80hp over a period of 6.67 seconds".

Some might ask the difference between electrical battery powered KERS used in normal hybrid roadcars & the mechanical ones used in Formula One, The answer is pretty straightforward: if compared with the electrical-battery systems, the mechanical KERS system provides a significantly more compact, efficient, lighter and environmentally-friendly solution, which defeinitely supports the "go-green" campaign that Formula One is trying to promote starting the 2009 season. KERS not only compelled Formula One to develop green technology but also to assist overtaking, creating much more exciting race sessions. A chasing driver could deploy his KERS device as he is catching the car ahead to give him an acceleration boost, unlike the previous seasons where overtaking is hampered by aerodynamical flow disrupting the pace of the car behind.

The rejoiceful thing though, is as FIA president Max Mosley commented: all cars will become hybrid at 2013". Therefore, this knowledge will prove useful when KERS systems is comercialized in the automotive market. Imagine less spending on petrol and depleting electrical battery charge due to KERS!!!