ENERGY RECOVERY
SYSTEMS (ERS)
OPTIMISING & BOOSTING
MOTORSPORT PERFORMANCE
Zytek provides motorsport energy recovery systems that will both increase energy efficiency and boost race performance.
ERS Growth in Motorsport Since 2009
Energy recovery systems in motorsport really came to prominence with the 2009 Formula 1 regulations aimed at increasing the efficiency of Formula 1 cars; initially limited to a maximum power of 60kW and 400KJ storage.
You were measured on how much energy was recovered in the deceleration phase, so the more energy recovered, the greater the efficiency of the system.
With energy storage for upto 2-laps made possible with an efficiently designed system, a 13-second 94 hp boost was made possible.
Initially the regulations were aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing lap times, though it ended up making racing more interesting, as drivers used this boost at strategic times in the race to stop themselves from being overtaken.
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ERS IN MAINSTREAM MOTORSPORT
INCREASE COST-BENEFIT BY
RECOVERING THERMAL ENERGY
This progression in the regulations and technology has made the ERS more cost-effective, and therefore widespread in mainstream motorsport.
For example, GT Racing in Japan, the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the British Touring Car Championship.
From KERS to ERS
Since 2009, F1 has adopted a more technically complex set of rules that now offer the ability to greatly increase thermal efficiency of engines.
This also allowed the recovery of thermal energy by utilising electric turbos, which has greatly increased the thermal efficiency of a power drain.
So no longer are these just kinetic energy recovery systems, but systems that also recover heat energy too.
RELATED ELECTRIFICATION PRODUCTS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) use the momentum of an object moving at high speed to generate electricity. This technology has been used in Formula 1 racing cars since the 1970s. KERS can be either active or passive. Active systems recover energy during braking and store it for later use. Passive systems do not require any external power source and instead harvest energy from the motion of the vehicle itself.
Yes, all our systems have been developed for use with the energy demands of the most arduous of conditions in mind.
However, if you are looking for a high performance road system, with the environmental benefits and the boost of power this could provide, we can make this happen.
The key reason to source all components in an energy recovery system is that one supplier has responsibility for all aspects of performance.
The customer is supported by a single race team, who have control over all elements of the system and the associated interactions.
This will also help to ensure you maximise energy savings, fuel efficiency, as well as performance and acceleration boost.
Zytek produces all related components, including the electric motor, to ensure you the most optimised possible system.
Yes, this is a key advantage of doing this; also energy efficiency by minimising cable lengths.
As long as the cells are available, then they can be packaged and controlled via the battery management system (BMS).
Yes, we also design energy recovery systems.
For example Zytek was nominated by Honda to develop a system which would be used in GT racing for many years.
The system was developed to be easily fitted to existing motorsport gearboxes, to allow the benefits of the system to be easily quantified on existing platforms. It was the first hybrid system championship win outside of Formula 1.
Yes, in the case of thermal systems, close co-operation with the turbocharger supplier will be necessary.
One of the reasons for F1 introducing the KERS in 2009 was to help highlight the environmental benefits of energy recovery systems such as this to a wider audience.
However, benefits also include performance enhancements such as an acceleration boost from the electrical energy stored.
Yes, an ERS works with any vehicle that has a battery pack. The ERS system uses sensors to detect when the car is accelerating or braking, and then applies brakes to help slow down the vehicle. This helps reduce wear and tear on brake pads and rotors.
Yes, they are used in some high performance road cars such as Ferrari and Lamborghini. They are also used in racing cars such as Formula One. The advantage of using them is that they provide better traction for cornering at higher speeds.
An ERS works with any car, whether it has an internal combustion engine or electric motor. The only difference between hybrids and non-hybrids is how they charge their batteries. Most hybrids use a combination of gasoline and electricity to power their motors.
Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) were invented in the early 1960s by Dr. Robert Bosch GmbH.
The KERS system was designed for use in racing cars. However, the technology has been adopted by Formula One teams since the 1980s. Today, almost all F1 teams use some form of KERS.
