Fuel saving ex-Formula One flywheel to be trialled on London buses
Wed 18 April 2012
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A fuel saving device developed for Formula One is to be fitted to six prototype buses.The Go-Ahead Group and Williams Hybrid Power, a subsidiary of Williams Grand Prix Engineering, have teamed up to develop a flywheel energy storage application for use in buses.
Go-Ahead and Williams Hybrid Power have agreed to co-develop and co-produce six prototype buses with a retrofitted hybrid flywheel system, providing electro-mechanical energy to drive the bus and deliver substantial improvements in fuel economy and reductions in CO2 emissions. Go-Ahead provides passenger transport for over one billion passenger journeys taken each year on its bus and rail services.
Six prototype buses owned by Go-Ahead, one of the UK's largest buses operators, are currently being fitted with the flywheels for a trial beginning later this year in and around Putney, south-west London.
Williams has predicted that its carbon-composite flywheel could help a city bus reduce its fuel use by as much as 30% but even lower estimates of around 10%-15% are attractive according to Go-Ahead. If successful, and contingent on raising the funding, the company says it will consider fitting the flywheels across its 4,000-strong fleet of buses.
Phil Margrave, Go-Ahead’s Group Engineering Director, commented: "In the on-going quest to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions of the Go-Ahead Group we are very excited to be working with Williams Hybrid Power, a British technology company at the cutting edge of alternative energy solutions.’’
Flywheel technology is considered a significant advantage as it can be fitted to buses already in operation, unlike competing technologies such as hybrid electric batteries that have to be fitted in the factory during manufacture.
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