New Porsche Hybrid: Two 60 kW motors, no batteries

Porsche racing hybrid technology used in its new 911 GT3 R Hybrid uses electrical front axle drive with two electric motors creating 60 kW. Each motor supplements the 480-bhp four-liter flat-six cylinder engine at the rear of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid. Uncommon features of this hybrid vehicle, include: The car will be tested in long-distance races on the Nürburgring.

April 1, 2010

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid has two 60 kW motors driven by an electrical flywheel, not batteries

Porsche racing hybrid technology used in its new 911 GT3 R Hybrid uses electrical front axle drive with two electric motors creating 60 kW. Each motor supplements the 480-bhp four-liter flat-six cylinder engine at the rear of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid.

Uncommon features of this hybrid vehicle, include:

  • Instead of the usual batteries in a hybrid road car, an electrical flywheel power generator fitted in the interior next to the driver delivers energy to the electric motors.

  • Rotor of the flywheel generator (an electric motor) spins at 40,000 rpm, storing energy mechanically as rotation energy. Brakes, instead of wasting energy in heat, charge the flywheel generator as the two electric motors reverse function on the front axle and serve as generators.

  • Acceleration transfers kinetic energy stored in the flywheel into up to 120 kW for the two electric motors. Each charge process delivers approximately 6 – 8 seconds of electric power.

The car will be tested in long-distance races on the Nürburgring, including 24 hours on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring, May 15-16.

www.porsche.com/usa/models/911/911-gt3