Ferrari adds a stop & start
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Ferrari California
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Ferrari
14th March, 2010
The Ferrari stand at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show (which
concludes today) may have been liberally coated in its traditional red, but there was a distinct green
tinge to several announcements made by Luca di Montezemelo (President of the Italian car maker)
revealing not just a concept car that reveals Ferrari’s future direction to cut emissions and fuel
consumption, but also adding recent technology to an existing Ferrari model.
After the success enjoyed by the 458 Italia, a car that combines performance and sportiness with
efficiency to the extent that it boasts class-leading emissions and specific power output – 307 g/km
of CO2 and 127hp/litre respectively - Ferrari showcased two additions to its new found eco-friendly
credentials at the Geneva Motor Show.
The first of these is the Stop & Start system sported by the Ferrari California, an industry first
on a high-performance sports car, while the second is the
Ferrari 599 HY-KERS,
a “vettura laboratorio” (experimental vehicle) which revealed to the public for the first time
the hybrid solutions being developed by Maranello’s engineers.
Introduced with effect from March in Europe for the Ferrari California, the Stop & Start System
cuts both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 6 per cent in the ECE + EUDC combined cycle, emitting
around 280 g/km, an fair value for a high performance naturally-aspirated sports car. The Stop & Start
cuts in virtually instantaneously - just 230 milliseconds, a time so fast that the driver barely
notices the engine restarting.
This solution is a further step in Ferrari’s on-going strategy to reduce fuel consumption and
emissions by working 360 degrees on all aspects of the cars. For example, the Ferrari California’s
direct-injection V8 boasts very low levels of friction. Purge valves in the crankcase counteract the
differences in pressure below the pistons which normally increase losses. Other solutions also reduce
friction, such as the DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) treatment of the valve followers and the highly
polished cam lobes, an innovation that has now been adopted across the range.
The other new arrival from Ferrari at the Swiss show is more future-focused and gave the public
its first glimpse of the
HY-KERS
vettura laboratorio which can reduce CO2 emissions by 35 per cent on the combined cycle (ECE +
EUDC). The HY-KERS is based on the 599 GTB Fiorano but importantly, the technology may one day be
fitted to all future Ferraris, 8- and 12-cylinders alike, regardless of their engine position. Thanks
to ongoing research combined with experience gained in Formula 1, the new technology developed at
Maranello actually accentuates the cars’ sporty character and driving involvement.
One of the principle objectives of the project is ensuring that Ferrari will be in a position to
comply with future CO2 emissions standards, particularly in terms of the urban cycle. City driving is
traditionally where sports cars are most penalised as their engines are designed for maximum
efficiency and performance at high revs, whereas the urban cycle involves low revs and low engine
loads.
There are many original aspects to the new Ferrari hybrid transmission, starting with its architecture.
Firstly, weight distribution has not been altered.
This is thanks to positioning the batteries below the floorpan of the car, and the use of a compact
electric motor coupled to the rear of the F1 dual-clutch gearbox. Not only does this layout not affect
dynamic performance, it actually improves it, by lowering the centre of gravity. Cockpit room and
luggage space are also unaffected.
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Maranello’s engineers also employed Ferrari’s track experience in the design, engineering and
manufacture of this innovative electric motor which produces over 100 hp. The algorithms and control
logics controlling the torque, traction and braking distribution functions are directly derived from
Formula 1.
The solution adopted for the HY-KERS represents just one of the possible technologies for the future,
but in the meantime Ferrari continues to evolve its models and increase their overall efficiency. Thus
research continues into reducing drag, improving rolling resistance of tyres and lowering weight as well
as working on reducing engine friction to increase efficiency.
Ferrari’s research into reducing energy consumption has not been focused merely on its cars but also
extends to the various production methods employed throughout the Maranello factory where the entire
manufacturing process is carried out, from the foundry to the final assembly. In the course of 2010,
Ferrari will cut CO2 emissions by 30,000 tons (-40 per cent) and Particulate Matter (PM) levels by 65
per cent. This will be achieved thanks to the company’s photovoltaic system and Italy’s largest
trigeneration plant (which produces electricity, hot and cold water), making Ferrari entirely
self-sufficient from an energy point of view.
This reduction also means that Ferrari will meet the Kyoto protocol objectives a full 10 years
ahead of schedule and with double the figure imposed on Europe.
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