Porsche 911 Hybrid

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In the GT3 R Hybrid, two electric motors power the front wheels while a gasoline engine drives the rear wheels. The GT3 R Hybrid has no batteries, which would add too much weight. Instead, energy is stored using a flywheel generator that can spin at up to 40,000 rpm. Power is sent to the flywheel generator during braking and that power is available for six to eight seconds following each charge. When the driver wants the extra boost — as much 160 horsepower — from the electric motors, he presses a button the steering wheel. That extra power comes in addition to the 480 horsepower produced by the GT3’s 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine. The extra boost can be useful in accelerating out of a turn or when passing another car.

While you won’t be able to park this car in your driveway anytime soon — it’s a racecar intended for LeMans endurance racing.

  1. Stolen Tropy

    Basically this is just a Formula 1-style KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) for endurance sports cars. It’s a very cool idea and I believe automakers are likely looking at potential road car applications for the future.

    It would make a great performance car application because it provides a big power boost (and likely better fuel economy during its discharge) without all the batteries.

    On the other hand, it only gives a short term burst and it still adds weight as a turbo/supercharger. It seems to me that forced induction, which is available whenever the driver dips into the throttle (and how ever long the gas is applied) will continue to be king on the street until a KERS-type system is available for extended bursts of performance enhancing energy.

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