17 replies to this topic

[August]

I wonder which companies manufacture the F1 teams KERSes. I've heard that RBR use Magneti Marelli KERS or KERS of their own work. And IIRC Ferrari tried Magneti Marelli KERS in '09 pre-season but now they (probably) use their own. Mercedes GP and Macca use Merc KERS, but what's the situation with Macca after 2012 as they're then no longer a Merc works team? LRGP use (obviously) Renault KERS, but is it made in Renault/Mecachrome factory in France like engines or is it made in Enstone. And, what will happen if they don't continue partnership with Renault in the future? Also, why RBR don't use Renault KERS as they already have Renault engines?

Williams developed the flywheel KERS, but is their battery KERS made by them? And what's the case with the rest of the teams, do they use KERS? IIRC all teams but the newest ones were going to use it. So which KERS Sauber, Force India and, STR use? If RBR have an own KERS does also STR use it? And which KERS are the new teams going to use?

[Stormsky68]

Mclaren and Force India use Mercs system don't they?

[Little Leaf]

Williams developed the flywheel KERS, but is their battery KERS made by them?

According to the RTL commentary last weekend, Williams are the only team to develop the complete system themselves...

They must buy-in some parts of it though surely?

[Ali_G]

I wonder which companies manufacture the F1 teams KERSes. I've heard that RBR use Magneti Marelli KERS or KERS of their own work. And IIRC Ferrari tried Magneti Marelli KERS in '09 pre-season but now they (probably) use their own. Mercedes GP and Macca use Merc KERS, but what's the situation with Macca after 2012 as they're then no longer a Merc works team? LRGP use (obviously) Renault KERS, but is it made in Renault/Mecachrome factory in France like engines or is it made in Enstone. And, what will happen if they don't continue partnership with Renault in the future? Also, why RBR don't use Renault KERS as they already have Renault engines?

Williams developed the flywheel KERS, but is their battery KERS made by them? And what's the case with the rest of the teams, do they use KERS? IIRC all teams but the newest ones were going to use it. So which KERS Sauber, Force India and, STR use? If RBR have an own KERS does also STR use it? And which KERS are the new teams going to use?

I thought the Magnetti Marelli KERS was the Ferrari KERS. No distinction. Magnetti Marelli is a member of the FIAT Group.

Edited by Ali_G, 12 April 2011 - 11:55.

[CaptnMark]

According to the RTL commentary last weekend, Williams are the only team to develop the complete system themselves...

They must buy-in some parts of it though surely?

Obviously they buy steel, copper, magnets, silicon components and most important, batteries.

Do we know what type of electric motor is used for KERS? AC or DC?

[24gerrard]

Obviously they buy steel, copper, magnets, silicon components and most important, batteries.

Do we know what type of electric motor is used for KERS? AC or DC?

IMO the most important part is no longer the batteries but the control system, mainly the part that controls the energy harvesting and how this balances with the rear brake application. It is a juggling act between excess rear tyre wear with unbalanced front to rear brake actuation and the benefits of 80 hp for better acceleration and top speed.

KERS should be a major area of development running alongside hybrid systems for road applications.
As I undertand the FIA, KERS was to be an area of cost outside the budget restraints and open to other industry for increased investment.
So far I can see no sign of this incentive being taken up by the worlds industry.

[Ruf]

Obviously they buy steel, copper, magnets, silicon components and most important, batteries.

Do we know what type of electric motor is used for KERS? AC or DC?

Not sure what they actually use, but considering that the batteries/capacitors store DC it would be kinda awkward to use AC motors and whatever rectifiers/stabilizers/inverters in the middle of the process when you can just use DC motors.

[August]

I thought the Magnetti Marelli KERS was the Ferrari KERS. No distinction. Magnetti Marelli is a member of the FIAT Group.

That seems to be the case. And also Renault KERS is made with Magneti Marelli.

http://www.formula1o...ers-for-us.html

So seems that Williams's and Merc's KERSes are the only ones not being made by Magneti Marelli.

[hulmerist]

from the friday press conference at malaysia

Q. Could you just clarify: is it your own KERS system or is it a Renault KERS system?

CH: It's a system that has commonality with Renault. It's been designed in conjunction with them. Obviously, the installation of the system tends to be more personalised to each team, but there's a great deal of commonality, certainly between the two Renault-powered teams that are running KERS.

Edited by hulmerist, 12 April 2011 - 12:50.

[tifosiMac]

Mclaren and Force India use Mercs system don't they?

I'm not sure if McLaren have the same KERS as the Mercedes team because Hamilton hinted that Mercedes have a better KERS system than them. when he was interviewed on Saturday.

[TURU]

There is no such thing like Renault KERS, or Mercedes KERS, or Ferrari KERS. There is Magneti Marelli KERS used by Renault, Red Bull, Ferrari, Toro Rosso(?) and Sauber(?), Zytek KERS used by Mercedes, McLaren, Force India and Williams KERS which is being used by Williams (but with poor results ). Of course we are talking here about basic packages, which are then personalised and developed by every team to suit their particular demands. That's why you can hear Hamilton saying that Mercedes has different KERS than McLaren.

[Odseybod]

KERS should be a major area of development running alongside hybrid systems for road applications.
As I undertand the FIA, KERS was to be an area of cost outside the budget restraints and open to other industry for increased investment.
So far I can see no sign of this incentive being taken up by the worlds industry.

I'm told KERS is becoming quite prevalent in trucks and buses. It's only road cars that are lagging behind.

[salamin]

I'm not sure if McLaren have the same KERS as the Mercedes team because Hamilton hinted that Mercedes have a better KERS system than them. when he was interviewed on Saturday.

interesting, got any source on that ?

[August]

There is no such thing like Renault KERS, or Mercedes KERS, or Ferrari KERS. There is Magneti Marelli KERS used by Renault, Red Bull, Ferrari, Toro Rosso(?) and Sauber(?), Zytek KERS used by Mercedes, McLaren, Force India and Williams KERS which is being used by Williams (but with poor results ). Of course we are talking here about basic packages, which are then personalised and developed by every team to suit their particular demands. That's why you can hear Hamilton saying that Mercedes has different KERS than McLaren.

Thanks TURU. But does anyone remember what were the teams plans before '09? Were Williams already then the only team planning to have a KERS of their own make? Whose KERS would've Honda and Toyota used, and whose KERS did BMW Sauber use?

[Ali_G]

Surely Toyota would have made their own. It would look quite odd if the world's leader in rgenerative braking could not make their own system.

[TURU]

Thanks TURU. But does anyone remember what were the teams plans before '09? Were Williams already then the only team planning to have a KERS of their own make? Whose KERS would've Honda and Toyota used, and whose KERS did BMW Sauber use?

BMW developed their own uber, air cooled ( ), 30kg (or maybe even more ) system and it was a major contributor to their downfall. I don't have any solid info about Honda and Toyota but I guess they were developing their own systems. At least this is what I heard about Honda.

Edited by TURU, 12 April 2011 - 16:38.

[August]

BMW developed their own uber, air cooled ( ), 30kg (or maybe even more ) system and it was a major contributor to their dawnfall. I don't have any solid info about Honda and Toyota but I guess they were developing their own systems. At least this is what I heard about Honda.

Does anybody know whether Honda were developing KERS at Brackley or at their engine factory?

[SRK]

Thanks TURU. But does anyone remember what were the teams plans before '09? Were Williams already then the only team planning to have a KERS of their own make? Whose KERS would've Honda and Toyota used, and whose KERS did BMW Sauber use?

Toyota had own KERS designed by Toyota Motorsport in Marsdorf.
Honda had two options- flywheel by Flybrid or own battery KERS designed in Honda R&D center in Tochigi, Honda Racing Development in Bracknell and Honda Racing F1 Team in Brackley.
BMW Sauber had KERS Department of transmission BMW AG in Munich and Sauber F1 Team in Hinwil.
Williams bought Automotive Hybrid Power creating Williams Hybrid Power...

Four teams, four different systems and only one was used without success. Outsourcing is the only right way to create KERS.