JULY 18, 2008

BMW Sauber runs KERS system

BMW Sauber conducted its first track tests of its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) at the company's Miramas test track in France last week. The work was done with a F1.07 with Marko Asmer doing the driving.

BMW Sauber conducted its first track tests of its Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) at the company's Miramas test track in France last week. The work was done with a F1.07 with Marko Asmer doing the driving. The test was a success and the system will make its first public appearance in the Jerez test next week with Christian Klien at the wheel. The team is not currently talking about the details of the system. BMW is a keen supporter of the idea as it will give the company the opportunity to use hybrid technology in its F1 cars.

"This makes Formula 1 the ideal pre-development platform for innovative drive technologies," said Dr Klaus Draeger, the member of the BMW Board of Management responsible for development. "The new F1 regulations give us the opportunity to use innovative hybrid technology under extreme conditions and in so doing to garner crucial expertise for series development as well. BMW customers stand to benefit as a result. The KERS unit designed for the BMW Sauber F1.09 is a highly effective variant of brake energy regeneration technology, and is similar in the way it works to the ActiveHybrid technology developed for BMW standard production vehicles. The BMW Group can transfer the knowledge gained within the BMW Sauber F1 Team directly into the development of standard production vehicles."

The team says that its system is an electric solution with a generator and electric motor powered by an energy storage module. The complete system will weigh under 40kg.