Williams’ flywheel-based energy storage system, first developed for its Formula One cars, is set to break into the world of mass transit thanks to a new business deal.
The company has signed an agreement with Kinetic Traction Systems Inc (KTSi) of California, USA, to advance and promote flywheel-based energy storage and recycling systems for mass transit rail and grid applications.
Williams F1’s subsidiary, Williams Hybrid Power (WHP,) has developed innovative, clean, high-performance and lightweight mobile flywheel energy storage systems from its original KERS design.
These incorporate its patented Magnetic Loaded Composite (MLC) technology which it says gives its systems a unique high-cycling ability and high-power characteristics.
WHP’s mobile flywheel systems have been successfully used in high-performance racecars such as the Porsche 911 GT3 R hybrid which has impressed with its on-track performances.
Meanwhile, KTSi’s proprietary stationary GTR flywheel systems, which employ WHP’s MLC technology, capture braking energy of trains to increase performance, reduce electrical energy consumption and lower carbon emissions for metro transit systems around the world.
The companies’ co-operation agreement will see Williams F1 market and support KTSi’s GTR flywheel systems in the rail and electrical grid sectors under its own brand in Europe, the Middle East and India.
The two companies will also work to promote composite flywheel technology globally and work to develop and enhance the technology.
Alex Burns, CEO of Williams F1 said, “With both companies commercialising flywheel energy storage based on common MLC technology, aligning our engineering, development and marketing makes sense.”
Dick Newark, KTSi CEO, added: “By partnering with Williams F1, we bring together our GTR flywheel technology, manufacturing and customer engineering expertise with their advanced engineering, development and marketing capabilities.
“This creates a depth of experience and organises technical resources to accelerate the deployment of GTR flywheel energy storage systems around the world.”