{"id":5148,"date":"2012-01-25T08:29:49","date_gmt":"2012-01-25T15:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=5148"},"modified":"2012-01-25T08:29:49","modified_gmt":"2012-01-25T15:29:49","slug":"formula-1-cars-and-mazda-recover-waste-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/formula-1-cars-and-mazda-recover-waste-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"Formula 1 Cars and Mazda Recover Waste Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"

David Bettencourt, a criminal defense attorney and aviation lawyer in Hawaii, is a follower of Formula 1 racing and energy-efficient systems.\u00a0 He filed a brief with your editor on the following.<\/p>\n

Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) were a relatively new thing in Formula 1 racing in 2009, had significant development problems and were banned in 2010. \u00a0\u00a0Reinstated in 2011, the systems recover the kinetic energy present in the waste heat created by the brakes and exhausts. The energy is then stored in a battery or a light, extremely high-speed flywheel, converted into power and can then deliver a maximum of 60 kilowatts (80 horsepower), which can be called upon by the driver to boost acceleration for up to 6.6 seconds per lap.<\/p>\n

Williams<\/a> is a major Formula 1 constructor and developer.\u00a0 Sam Michael, Williams technical director, explains.\u00a0 \u201cThe rules have changed since KERS was last used in F1. \u00a0Re-fuelling is no longer permitted, so the packaging is different now. We have packaged our KERS system entirely inside the car\u2019s survival cell, below the fuel tank, because we didn\u2019t want to compromise any of the sidepod area for aerodynamics. The car is longer than last year as a result, but the advantages of doing that outweigh the negatives. Assuming you\u2019re on the weight limit, there is no downside to KERS; it\u2019s worth 0.3s and it gives you a better start.\u201d<\/p>\n