Turbo boost

and McLaren Electronic Systems (

) are working together to develop a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) for Formula 1 racing cars.

The KERS technology collaboration addresses the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile’s commitment to support fuel efficiency and energy recovery initiatives in the next generation of Formula 1 powertrains.

KERS is a hybrid regenerative braking system that is designed to recover kinetic energy from the car during braking, store that energy and make it available upon demand from the driver to accelerate the car.

The stored kinetic power is released using a ‘boost’ button that delivers a burst of extra power to the car for a short period - for example, while overtaking a competitor or defending a position.

MES will bring its experience in electronic control unit (ECU) development to the partnership, while Freescale will share its motor control, microcontroller and power system design expertise.

Freescale engineers have already joined MES at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, to start developing intelligent monitoring and control technology for the KERS motor/generator subsystem.