Malaysian GP 2009 - Race 2/17

Well I'm proper lost now!

Sorry if I'm being very thick, but I don't know what has actually happened and what do we think was supposed to have been said to cause this to happen?
 
Last edited:
Another KERS question?!
Ok, so its 6.6 seconds per lap. 80HP Boost.

Here's my question, does that 6.6seconds totally drain the batteries?

I find it hard to believe thats all they can hold, thus a comment posted either here or on Aussie thread about using KERS for 13.2 seconds along the main straight might be possible as the batteries may well hold more than simply 6.6seconds worth.
It would seem foolish to me to design a system that could only hold a charge for the maximum time allowed to use it. In all the incar shots of Lewis and his KERS, the second he went over the line he had full power available, thus leading me to believe the batteries do infact hold considerably more than 6.6seconds worth of power.
 
Holy confusion Batman!

KERS can only be used for 6.5s per lap. Upon starting a new lap, the drivers can use it for another 6.5s. Whatever remains in the batteries reserves can not then be added on top.

I think what he means is more about how much the batteries can hold since, as has been shown they seem to be able to use the boost for 13.2sec effectively along the pit straight, since the 6.6sec limit resets with the lap.

ie. Hamilton rounds the last corner, boosts on the exit, 5 seconds later he crosses the line and his KERS limit resets, and he hits the button again and boots his way down to the end of the straight 5 seconds further on.

In this scenario he has had 10 seconds of continuous boostage, despite a limit of 6.6sec/lap.

So I believe his question was, what is the capacity of the energy storage system and how fast do they charge in order to enable this extended boost, since they clearly hold more than 6.6seconds worth of boost energy.


I would guess that the teams would install a capacity of double the limit in order that they can abuse the double boost to the maximum extent.

I would also assume that the energy they recover would be able to charge several times the cap per lap. Meaning that the double boost is always available on a circuit where it would be beneficial to use.

I'm not a team engineer or driver though, so :p
 
Holy confusion Batman!

KERS can only be used for 6.5s per lap. Upon starting a new lap, the drivers can use it for another 6.5s. Whatever remains in the batteries reserves can not then be added on top.

i read his question differently

he's asking if the 6.5 seconds is a physical limitation of the batteries, or a FIA imposed one

and the answer of course is that its the latter. yes the batteries could hold much more, but FIA have set a limit of 6.5 seconds per lap, which is why as soon as they cross the start/finish line it magically resets.
 
Got a tenner on Webber this weekend to finish in the points at 11/8 (2.375). He's a dab hand in the wet stuff (Silverstone '08 aside) and is due some luck for a change - so long as he keeps out of the inevitable first lap kerfuffle!

I'm going to put a tenner on the fact that whatever the order they cross the line on Sunday, won't be the same order they are classified in by next Friday. :eek::D
 
Holy confusion Batman!

KERS can only be used for 6.5s per lap. Upon starting a new lap, the drivers can use it for another 6.5s. Whatever remains in the batteries reserves can not then be added on top.

thats what he was meaning - coming off the last bend before the beginning of the lap you could theoretically be allowed to use KERS to get to the line, and then just as you cross over it again, be able to use it again for the (new) lap you are on - IF the system is able to keep two laps of charge in the battery to be used in two boosts back to back
 
and the answer of course is that its the latter. yes the batteries could hold much more, but FIA have set a limit of 6.5 seconds per lap, which is why as soon as they cross the start/finish line it magically resets.

The actual FIA rule is:

5.2.3 The maximum power, in or out, of any KERS must not exceed 60kW.
Energy released from the KERS may not exceed 400kJ in any one lap.
Measurements will be taken at the connection to the rear wheel drivetrain.
 
I guess therefore it would make sense to have a system where you could potentially use 800kJ in one go, so that you could end your last lap and start a new one on 2x boost if you like!
 
Back
Top Bottom