Ferrari to Produce its First Hybrid Supercar

Car manufacturers are under increasing pressure to reduce the CO2 emissions released by their models, and this has lead most to start producing hybrid or electric versions of their cars. Even European supercar companies such as Porsche, Jaguar, and McLaren have their own high powered, green supercars, utilising hybrid or clean diesel technology. Ferrari is the only company which has managed to become a leader in reducing its carbon emissions (mainly because its emissions were so high to start with) without using hybrid, electric, or diesel engines.

Now Ferrari have announced that they have developed a new V12 engine which uses a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS), commonly used in Formula 1 to give the cars a power boost. The engine is expected to be used in the next-generation of the Enzo.

At the Beijing International Motor Show Ferrari drew quite a crowd at its stand with the unveiling of its new F12 Berlinetta, and the world premiere of its next-generation HY-KERS system.

The F12 Berlinetta is the first in a new series of 12 cylinder cars; the most powerful, high-performance, road car that Ferrari have ever produced. Great attention was paid to reducing its fuel consumption and limiting its carbon emissions. The 30 percent that they managed to cut the emissions by means that the F12 Berlinetta is the most efficient of its type, with 15 l/100km and 350 g/km of CO2.

The HY-KERS system consists of an electric motor attached to one of the two main shafts allowing instantaneous and continuous power to be delivered between the motor and the petrol engine. During breaking the electric motor acts as a generator to recharge the batteries. The resulting effects are a dramatic cut in the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 40 percent, whist at the same time increasing the power output of the car.

By. James Burgess of Oilprice.com