Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Uses Kinetic Energy in a Unique Way

Williams Hybrid Power partnering with Porsche recently showed off the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid that features an electrical front axle drive with two electric motors onboard that supplement the 480-bhp, 4-liter capacity located in the rear of the race car. Instead of using regular batteries that are normally found in a hybrid vehicle, an electrical flywheel generator delivers energy to the twin motors.

The flywheel's rotor that is actually an electric motor spins at 40,000 rpm storing energy mechanically as rotation energy. Whenever the brakes are applied, the two motors reverse their function and charge the flywheel. As the braking action ceases and the gas is once again engaged, there is a powerful burst of energy (up to 120kW) that is available for 6 to 8 seconds.


There is no wasted heat from burning brakes, no wasted fuel by accelerating and much lower C02 emissions. Point made, the flywheel is nothing more than a mass rotating on an axis, a form of kinetic energy. In this particular scenario, the flywheel is used to store energy, taking the place of a chemical source found in a battery.