Peugeot Roll Out Hybrid Race Car

This weekend at Silverstone saw the last round of the championship Le Mans Series.

The championship was won by the Audi LMP1, but Peugeot are the ones that seemed to grab the headlines, first by dragging the 908 HDi on the 2nd step of the podium, but especially for revealing the Peugeot 908 HY, a new race vehicle with hybrid technology.

After the diesel, hybridization is a logical step for increasing the efficiency of vehicles endurance.

In recovering energy usually dissipated as heat during braking, the Peugeot 908 HY makes it possible to reuse the energy during the acceleration phase, thus gaining in performance while reducing consumption.

It uses an electric motor of 60 kW (80 hp) and 10 packs of Lithium-Ion batteries (6 in the passenger area and 4 in the flat bottom on the left side of the vehicle), all driven by an electronic box located in the left front wing.

The system allows an operation mode that is 100% electric or 100% thermal or mixed output.

With the latter mode, Peugeot expects to recover energy for 20 to 30 seconds on a tour of the circuit of Le Mans.

The driver then decides whether he wishes to use this reserve power for more performance (for over-taking for example) or to earn 3 to 5% savings in consumption.

The racing governing body, the COA has appropriately amended its rules to allow hybrid vehicles during the 2009 season, but only outside of classification.

From the 2010 season, on the other hand, cars like the Peugeot 908 HY can fight for victory.

If it works, and if can win, the hybrid may change the face of racing not only at Le Mans but also F1 and NASCAR as big name sponsors become concerned about the image of gas guzzling race cars.