The loud, thundering engines and flashing speeds of Formula 1 cars are integral aspects of the motorsport. These cars push the limits of current technology to create the most powerful automobiles that only science fiction can satisfy.
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| Image source: wikipedia.org |
Regular racing audiences might think of these high-power supercars as inefficient and environmentally harmful, considering the amount of fuel they consume just to reach their maximum speed. With new automotive technologies emerging, however, the dilemma on excessive CO2 emissions is gradually being addressed. At Formula 1, for example, recent developments in fuel efficiency like fuel injection, turbocharging, and energy recovery systems are increasingly popular.
In 2014, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)—the top-tier governing body for F1 races—released a new 1.6-litre v6 engine standard that is smaller and more fuel efficient than the conventional 2.4-litre v8 engine. This new engine change can reduce fuel consumption drastically by up to 35 percent. This downsized engine doesn’t necessarily mean it is slower than its predecessor. The agency green-lighted the use of Energy Recovery System (ERS) for more impressive performance while taking the environment into consideration.
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| Image source: weeklypique.com |
Although ERS was used in past races, it was only limited to kinetic energy. In addition, the amount of stored energy from the previous system was limited. FIA currently doubled the amount of stored kinetic energy as well as introducing the use of heat energy for ERS. The ERS is a system that allows the car to store both kinetic and heat energy to generate electrical energy and use that force to propel the car, making it more efficient and environment-friendly. Currently, Formula 1 has imposed the reduction of maximum fuel capacity used by each team, from 150kg to 100kg, effectively reducing consumption by 30 percent.
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