Swedish automobile manufacturer Volvo Cars has completed test of a new kinetic flywheel technology also known as Flywheel KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) on public roads.
Volvo claimed that the is light, financially viable and eco-efficient and can offer a saving up to 25%.
The flywheel, having a diameter of 20cms, is made of carbon fiber and weighs about six kilograms, and is claimed to spin in a vacuum to reduce the frictional losses.
Volvo Car Group Powertrain Engineering vice president Derek Crabb said the results show that this technology combined with a four-cylinder turbo engine has the potential to reduce fuel consumption by up to 25% compared with a six-cylinder turbo engine.
"Giving the driver an extra 80 horsepower, it makes a car with a four-cylinder engine accelerate like one with a six-cylinder unit," Crabb said.
The system, fitted to the rear axle, uses the braking energy generated while stopping the breaking energy powers the flywheel to spin at 60,000 revs per minute, which are shifted to the rear wheels through a specially designed transmission, when the vehicle starts to move.
Volvo had conducted the experiment on the Volvo S60 that has an acceleration of 0-62mph in 5.5S, which was claimed to be reduced by seconds with the use of flywheel.
"The flywheel's stored energy is sufficient to power the car for short periods. This has a major impact on fuel consumption," Crabb added.
"Our calculations indicate that it will be possible to turn off the combustion engine about half the time when driving according to the official New European Driving Cycle."
"The next step after completing these successful tests is to evaluate how the technology can be implemented in our upcoming car models."
