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Motormorph Digest: KERS

KERS is the magic acronym which is floating around the F1 paddock and being quoted more in motoring publications than Jade Goody in OK magazine (well, nearly).  But what is this mystical power that gives F1 cars the Popeye and spinach effect?

This new gadget in the F1 cockpit stands for Kinetic Energy Recovery System and it is the new big thing in F1 because it can make a big difference to the outcome of a race. KERS allows a team to take energy generated from braking in corners, then store it, and use it again for a concentrated burst of no more than 60kW of energy which is about 80 bhp for a total of 400kJ per lap. For those of a younger generation it is like the NOS button used in Need for Speed games or in the Fast and the Furious films. However unlike NOS it keeps the hippies happy as it means that being green and using electrical power means that you are the fastest guy on the track, showing how clean technology is the best thing to ever happen to motorsport – *yawn* greenwash *yawn.

There are two ways in which F1 teams can harness this electrical  energy, either in the form of a battery or with the use of a flywheel. The battery system is being used by most teams at the moment because the reliability and packaging seemed easier to implement within the cars. The battery uses the braking energy by storing it in super-capacitor batteries which then release power to the rear wheels with a push of a button on the steering wheel. This is just like the system used in hybrid cars seen on the roads such as the Toyota Prius or Honda Insight. It is quite ironic that F1 cars and technology usually influence road going cars but F1 is now taking technological advances from cars such as the Toyota Prius. Instead of using batteries teams such as Williams have decided to give their car a boost with the help of a flywheel. The flywheel method uses a 64,000rpm flywheel as the energy storage device which is linked to the two rear driving wheels to provide the additional power.

The electrical injection can be good for the racing because it adds a new element for the drivers and tacticians to think about. However it is only be effective at some circuits, normally ones with long straights. The boost in power makes it easier for a car to break the turbulence and overtake a competitor on a long straight such as the one at Barcelona or Dubai. Yet, on small twisty circuits, like Monaco, KERS will have little effect on the race.

KERS is no way the saving grace of this years F1 season as some teams have decided not to use it at all. Renault initially used the system at the season opener in Melbourne but now doesn’t think that the technology is suitably evolved to continue using it. For some drivers using KERS is out of the question full stop. Robert Kubica is not running KERS because he is one of the tallest and heaviest F1 drivers. Adding the Kinetic Energy Recovery System to his car would do more harm to his lap times than good.With the devices, batteries and wiring equipment, it all weighs in at around 35kg and this can have a major effect on the delicately crafted F1 cars balance. Teams use their testing time in the off season to fine tune their cars to perform at their best and to keep the weight balance perfect. . Adding the bulky KERS system disrupts this process as they also need to fit around 60-70kg of ballast in the car and it raises the centre of gravity making cornering harder.

So is there a future in KERS? It seems like a good idea and has added a new exciting twist into racing as well as a new colourful button on to the steering wheel. But no matter how much Martin Brundle and Jonathan Legard talk about their new flashing light on the TV screen, having an electrical boost isn’t winning races for teams. F1 has always been about the best car on the track, and the best car on the track at the moment is Brawn’s and they are not running KERS. KERS may just be a one season wonder as the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) has taken a step to abandon the use of KERS next year. According to reports, the vote to ban the hybrid powertrains was not unanimous, but a majority of teams have voted against the technology for 2010.

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