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Ferrari developing hybrid models

Written by Christian Wurfel

Monday, 07 July 2008

Governments around the world are bowing to public pressure to reduce greenhouse gases, and more often than not the first sector they look at is the auto industry. The Australian government is currently considering introducing a new carbon emissions trading scheme to help put a cap on the combined amount of CO2 emitted each year, while in Europe governments have proposed a ruling that could see carmaker’s forced to limit their fleet average carbon levels to 130g/km by as early as 2012 (the current average is about 160g/km).

This could have disastrous effects for niche players like Ferrari, which produces a limited range of high carbon emitting vehicles.

The supercar company is now working on cutting its vehicles’ greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half and is working on several different strategies including building lighter cars and implementing new hybrid technology. Speaking with Germany’s Welt am Sonntag, Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo told reporters the carmaker is aiming to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 40% between now and 2012.

Not your everyday hybrid
“We are currently working on the development of a Ferrari that will use alternative energy sources and which will be based on what we are doing at the moment in Formula 1,” he revealed, referring to the new Kinetic Energy Recycling System (KERS) that works on the principle of brake-energy-regeneration.

The KERS is basically a constant-variable-transmission (CVT) connected to a flywheel that engages on deceleration, recuperating some of the energy that would otherwise be converted to heat in the brakes. This energy is used to spin a flywheel, which continues spinning until called upon to boost acceleration for overtaking and cornering. This is a radically different design to the petrol-electric hybrid system that power vehicles like the Toyota Prius, as it features neither batteries nor electric motors.

Montezemolo insisted that any future hybrid Ferrari would still be “fundamentally a Ferrari”. However, the first models aren’t expected to be available for sale until around 2015.

Forced induction and smaller engines also planned
In a further effort to reduce emissions, future Ferraris could also come powered by smaller and more fuel-efficient turbocharged V6 engines. A company spokesman revealed last week that Ferrari has ruled out nothing in terms of technology as it works to keep high-performance a priority while accommodating strict emissions rules.

The first of these new technologies has already been seen in the latest California coupe-convertible. The new model is the first production Ferrari to feature fuel-saving direct-injection and dual-clutch gearbox technology.

Last year Ferrari also showcased a radical new concept constructed from plastic and cardboard. Labelled the FXX Millechili (pictured), the new concept was a representation of the carmaker’s strategy for improving its image in the eyes of environmentalists.

A production version of the Millechili is rumoured to be in development ahead of a 2010 release date. The new supercar is expected to weigh less than 1,000kg and feature a 450kW V10 positioned in a traditional mid-engine layout.

2007 Ferrari FXX Millechile Concept gallery

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