Eco factor: Revolutionary yet eco-friendly systems for cars.
In the recent final round of Le Mans Series 2008 at Silverstone, Peugeot Sport presented a revelation with the 908 HDi FAP. The 908HY was presented in silver-gray, giving a foretaste of what Peugeot’s next endurance racer could look like and is powered by a high-tech diesel race engine, an electric motor along with a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). This technology also enables a quantity of the kinetic energy produced under braking to be either recovered or stored. In the case of a non-hybrid car, this energy is degenerated in the form of heat via the brakes and enables the vehicle’s efficiency when connected. Not only does it enhance performance with no increase in the amount of energy but it also reduces fuel consumption for the same level of performance thanks to the availability of stored mechanical energy.
In the course of a lap of Le Mans, for example, the system will recuperate energy either to deliver extra power thanks to an additional boost of 60kW (80hp) for approximately 20 seconds per lap or to reduce fuel consumption for the equivalent level of performance thanks to the mechanical energy recovered. Running a hybrid car in endurance racing would give Peugeot a chance to gain extremely valuable experience and that would benefit the development of such cars!
The Dark side:
The company claims that the KERS technology recovers waste kinetic energy and converts it into a 20-second power booster that adds a whopping 80 horsepower to the car without using anything more than braking energy. The extra electronic horses reduce the diesel thirst between three and five per cent. No one in the right frame of mind would call such a system bad! I think more and more of such automobiles need to be encouraged.
Via: Gizmag
