Porsche 918 Spyder & RSR

918 Spyder, photo credit: images.gizmag.com

Technology displayed in the 911 GT3 R hybrid racing car attracted much attention during competition racing on the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit, during the American Le Mans Series races in Road Atlanta/USA and the ILMC run in China's Zhuhai. 

Flywheel Accumulator, 918 RSR photo credit: blog.webridestv.com

 

 

With its highly-efficient flywheel accumulator, the 918 RSR proves massive power gains of 200HP to the front wheels alone.  The 6.2 liter V8's peak output is 563HP at 10,300/rpm.  The electric motors on the two front wheels each contribute 75 kW (x2 a total of 150 kW), so the peak drive power is a whopping 767HP.


This is an exciting time for the auto industry, as new hybrid technology is literally going to save us from a performance drought due to fuel prices.  It all starts with racing.  Put through the paces and punished severely, the track is the ultimate proving ground for automotive innovation.  In a few years time, we will most likely see this sort of flywheel accumulator on the everyday driver type of car, as the technology becomes more affordable and mass produced.

918 RSR, photo credit: greensupercar.com

The best thing is that it is energy that the car has already produced: Kinetic.  And just like in F1, where they use K.E.R.S. (Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems), which currently is limited to 60kw or 80HP.  When the 918 has a full charge ready, the power can be delivered for up to 8 seconds.  Where the F1 regulation holds the capacity to around 6.67 seconds per lap, resulting in lap benefits of 0.1seconds to 0.4 seconds.  

918 RSR, photo credit: en.last-video.com

So basically, Porsche is bringing K.E.R.S. to consumers...which is awesome to say the least.  Just a matter of time until it is in a 911, and soon other manufacturers will create their own for use on smaller displacement engines to deliver staggering performance numbers. 
So with an extra 200HP on tap, think of the applications with which this could be used.  Literally, the power equivalent of a turbo on moderately high boost levels, or a large nitrous shot.  Imagine a 1.6 liter, 4-cylinder delivering nearly 300HP without a turbocharger or nitrous, and getting 60+mpg...We're just about there.