What is the point of having KERS?

[CHT]

KERS in F1 is not about "energy recovery" in the spirit of global warming, it about sand bagging the cars so that the KERS will look like they are recoverying energy and doing good to the enviroment.

I strongly believe that if someone would to do a study on F1 annual carbon emission before and after the introduction of KERS, it will show that KERS is actually a CURSE to global warming.

Assuming if KERS get transferred into mass production performance car and its going to weigh an extra 100kg to counter the weight balance issue, honestly would consumer bother?

[Rob W]

KERS in F1 is not about "energy recovery"...

I strongly believe that if someone would to do a study on F1 annual carbon emission before and after the introduction of KERS, it will show that KERS is actually a CURSE to global warming.

While probably right... it's really a small-fry issue in the scheme of things. If F1 was interested in reducing emissions they'd be better off simply using production tires, standard rims, brake pads etc.. basically anything which is worn on an hourly basis in F1 and made just for F1 - that is where the waste is. Even the car emissions is insignificant compared to these things.

At least the KERS doesn't get replaced every time they bring the car out (at least not that I know).

[vyselegend]

Here's a great onboard vid of Alonso overtaking Trulli at Bahrein, using the most of his KERS. You can spot the moment he pushes the button (@ 0'07), and the incredible boost it gives for the three seconds he uses it!

Strangely from this vid KERS seems very efficient. I guess it is mostly because Trulli was just out of the pits with lots of fuel and hard tyres...



Note: I suggest you download the video (using plugins like download helper for firefox), since the lifetime of F1 vids on youtube is quite short with Bernie's lawyers troops...

[timbo]

McLaren's KERS seems to show where BMW and Ferrari went wrong.. it doesn't seem to have affected the McLaren car handling to the point where there is a discussion as to whether it should even be there.

Yeah, because they obviously had aero-problems.

[CHT]

KERS in F1 is not about "energy recovery"...

I strongly believe that if someone would to do a study on F1 annual carbon emission before and after the introduction of KERS, it will show that KERS is actually a CURSE to global warming.

While probably right... it's really a small-fry issue in the scheme of things. If F1 was interested in reducing emissions they'd be better off simply using production tires, standard rims, brake pads etc.. basically anything which is worn on an hourly basis in F1 and made just for F1 - that is where the waste is. Even the car emissions is insignificant compared to these things.

At least the KERS doesn't get replaced every time they bring the car out (at least not that I know).

I believe for the battery type KERS, the battery needs to be replace after every race. As for the flywheel type developed by Williams, it should be able to last for the entire season, however Williams has yet to use it in the race.