Ducati Panigale 1199R and the Energia Kinetic Energy Recovery System.
Um, yeah. Energia Kenetic what? I had no clue.
And chances are, unless you follow Formula 1 racing (which many Ducatisti do; I just happen to be a NASCAR fan - the horror!) you likely had no idea what that mouthful of words meant either.
The short version is that Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) harvests energy from wheel deceleration, or excess heat created by the braking system, and converts that energy into electricity that is stored until called upon to boost acceleration. Sort of like an electrified turbo boost or power burst in a video game.
In fact, in F1 racing, drivers use a boost button on the steering wheel to release the energy at the optimum moment, helping an overtaking car pass a rival, or conversely, aid the leading car in making a clean getaway.
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| Somewhere on this BMW F1 racecar steeling "wheel" is the KERS boost button. |
The thing is, this technology, while in full use with autos, isn't yet implemented in two-wheeled racing. That is, until now.
Or, at least, next year, when Ducati marries it to its 1199R Panigale and drops it on World Superbike Racing with the force of a multi-megaton bomb: the energy recovered during braking will be harnessed then directed through a tiny flywheel at the rear, releasing a explosion of power as the bike exits a turn and elevating the torquey Ducati to a whole new stratosphere.
As if the non-KERS Panigale wasn't fearsome enough.
Guess we know why Ducati chose to stay out of the 2012 World Superbike Championship.
Cheers!
For the original article from DucatiNewsToday.com, click: HERE