An interesting statement from the Chairman of Williams, Adam Parr, has sparked speculation that part of the engine plans for Formula One in 2013 will include the cars running on pure electric power in the pits.
Further explaining, Parr mentioned that the 2013 engine will be a four cylinder turbocharged mill that is further turbo-compounded. KERS will naturally remain part of the drivetrain architecture and with the power having quadrupled.
One of the fans will be generating electricity to charge the engine while another will be recovering energy from the exhausts to recharge the battery. Even with the cylinder count diminished, power will still be in the 800hp range.
“You’ve got cutting edge technology, I mean really the future of road cars, you’re going to have a very powerful message about environmental performance and what technology can do. And the racing will be just as exciting, if not more,” said Parr.
“Formula One is ultimately defined by its technology and Formula One’s constant reinvention of itself, whether it’s on the chassis side or the engine side, is fundamental to the nature of the sport. The people who don’t want things to change are the people who for whatever reason feel they have an incumbent advantage by not changing things,” he added.
Source: James Allen