Audi does it again.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

This time with the help of electricity.
http://jalopnik.com/5919031/audi-e+tron ... in-le-mans

[Mr1der]

sigh.

I'm looking for any reason to not validate hybrids and this isn't helping.

[sbird1]

I was going to start this thread the other day, but whenever I post stuff about racing, no one seems to give a s***. I, for one, love the Audi race team. Their work with the diesels is incredible. First time a hybrid car has gotten pole/won at the 24 Hours of Le Mons is a huge accomplishment. Awesome stuff.

[OriginalWheelman]

The electric motors for the front axle were driven by regenerative braking energy stored via flywheel. No batteries, no charging from the rear engine.

[MinisterofDOOM]

How is the charge stored without batteries? Capacitors?

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Yeah, I'd like to see a video of the process. Porsche uses a mechanical flywheel (which sounds much more baddass IMO), I wonder how that system differs.

*Edit WHAT DO YAH KNOW?!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wEbQj1Mr18[/youtube]
I'm guessing it's a direct transfer?
Also, have you seen in-cockpit videos of it in action? It sounds like a pissed-off banshee when it's recovering energy.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yuxKw1a ... re=related[/youtube]

[flohtingPoint]

sigh.

I'm looking for any reason to not validate hybrids and this isn't helping.

This has been going on in F1 since 2009 with KERS, it was only a matter of time before other folks had success with it.

[300ZXttZMAN]

According to the diagram it appears that as soon as the driver lets of the brakes the energy goes to the front wheels.

I don't think its a direct transfer because if it was then wouldn't the energy have to be applied to the front wheels while the brakes were being applied since the power is not stored? I mean obviously it wouldn't make any sense to power the front wheels while the brakes are being applied.

[OriginalWheelman]

http://www.dailytech.com/Audi+R18+etron ... e24947.htm\

The hybrid system used in the racecars uses a flywheel accumulator system to meet requirements at Le Mans. “A high power density is crucial during energy recuperation,” states Christopher Reinke, Technical Project Leader LMP. “The accumulator must be capable of absorbing a lot of energy within a few seconds during the braking stage.”

The hybrid system is integrated in the front axle of the vehicle and uses two drive shafts along with a Motor Generator Unit that has planetary gears and electronic flywheel accumulator sits beside the driver. The flywheel system captures energy during braking in specified braking zones. The carbon fiber flywheel is accelerated electrically during the braking process and after the corner; the driver accelerates again with this system delivering energy to the front wheels making the car a part-time all-wheel drive unit.

Race regulations allow for 500 kJ of energy to be transferred to the front wheels between two braking phases. The control the system occurs without driver intervention with the charging process control by the deceleration of the car and the booster stage defined when the vehicle is above the minimum speed of 120 km an hour.