Here's how the electromechanical flywheel hybrid system was installed in the 2010 version of the +Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid. The version in the new +Audi USA R18 e-tron quattro is about half the size and weight.
In album 911 hybrid (91 photos)
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wow, that's amazing. Where can we find out more info on the flywheel they are using?
Great photos – I'm really surprised where the gadgets are located. Right next to the driver!
+Donald Farmer Here's an article about the 911 Hybrid that I wrote for +Popular Mechanics a in late 2010 http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/hybrids/porsche-911-gt3r-hybrid-flywheel
Here's another piece that contains a couple of videos including one with a Williams F1 engineer and a cool animation that shows the system in action.
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/11/videos-porsche-911-gt3-r-hybrid-uses-williams-f1-flywheel-kers/
Very cool..My dream car…the 911…awesome photos
Do you happen to know how this affects the weight distribution?
Also, seeing the photographs from what I think was Laguna Seca made me think of another company that could probably benefit greatly from a hybrid race system like this: Mazda. Since rotary engines have so little torque it seems like a perfect pairing to help pull them out of corners, doesn't it? I'd love to see a setup like that in the RX-8s in the Rolex Cup series, especially since it would mitigate their abysmal fuel consumption a bit.
+Rick Bucich if you want to know a little more about that car, read the articles Sam so kindly linked in the comments here. Amazing bit of technology.
+Melina M It definitely shifts the weight balance toward the front of the car since both the 911 and the R18 have the motors installed at the front axle to create what is known as a through-the-road hybrid configuration. When Williams used this system on its F1 cars, the electric drive was at the rear axle and blended output directly with the torque from the engine.
Because of the weight transfer that occurs under braking, all vehicles do most of their braking with the front wheels. As a result Williams missed out on capturing much of the available kinetic energy during braking. Capturing the engine from the front wheels as Porsche and Audi are doing allows them to grab a lot more energy and then put it to the track without overwhelming the rear tires. So despite the extra weight, the overall balance and performance is improved along with the fuel efficiency.
An RX-8 with a system like this would rock especially if they followed the same path of electric drive at the front and engine output to the rear.
What I really want to see now is a Furai with a 20b (or 26b if I'm being greedy) with this baby packed on board. Alas I fear that day will never come.
Thanks +Melina M will do!
thanks for the links +Sam Abuelsamid I can't get over how cool this is. Wonder if the flywheel affect helps on the corners. These would be great to add to hybrids. 1G deceleration is amazing.