Kinetic Energy Recovery System

A kinetic energy recovery system, or KERS, is a technology for recovering the kinetic energy a moving vehicle loses under braking rather than letting it dissipate as heat, storing that energy in a reservoir such as a flywheel or a bank of high voltage batteries so it can be released again to assist acceleration. KERS technology spans a range of sophistication, from elaborate high-end systems developed for Formula One racing by suppliers such as Zytek, Flybrid, Torotrak and Xtrac, down to simpler differential-based systems such as the Cambridge Passenger and Commercial Vehicle KERS, and the various designs draw on technologies including continuously variable transmissions and flywheels to capture braking energy and deliver it back as an acceleration boost.