FIA Approves Hybrid Technology for Formula 1

In his opening address to the Forum on Mobility of the future at the Geneva Motor Show, Max Mosley explained why he as president of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) had agreed to accept the presidency of IAMF. Formula One is one of the most important technical laboratories for our future mobility. In future, the “king” discipline in motor racing will be concerned very intensively with hybrid technology. His Excellency Prince Albert of Monaco was also among those present. He is a member of the IAMF patronage committee and had travelled from Monaco specially for the inauguration.

Max Mosley stated that Formula One would not only be approving the use of hybrid technology from the 2009 racing season onwards but would also be promoting it. The reason given by Max Moseley was that with hybrid technology it is possible to use the energy on board a racing car several times over and thus reduce fuel consumption. As from next year it should be possible, thanks to the combination of electrical and combustion engines, to recover the energy lost by racing cars when braking. As of 2011, the aim will be to recover additional energy from the cooling systems and in a final step - which should be around 2013 - further fuel savings should be feasible thanks to the recycling of exhaust fumes. Max Mosley is convinced that these innovations in Formula One will also lead to significant developments in drive technology for passenger cars.

Following Max Mosley's address, both Michael Kaufmann, deputy director of EnergieSchweiz, and Philippe Méan, research and development director of Energie Ouest Suisse EOS, examined the question of how much energy and CO2 can be saved with new drive technologies and other technical measures.

Michael Kaufmann pointed out that the current traffic situation urgently required new measures and new technologies to reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions. He regarded improvements in efficiency as the most important line of development for cars. The urgently-necessary reduction in the weight of our vehicles can make a significant contribution to the reduction of fuel consumption.

Philippe Méan said he was convinced that electricity will play a decisive role in mobility of the future. Electricity can be generated from the most varied renewable or fossil primary energies. He showed that with plug-in hybrid vehicles which can run on both electricity and petrol, significant energy and CO2 savings are possible even when the electricity is generated in a modern thermal power station using fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas.

Various aspects of hybrid technology and electric vehicles are a focus of the Forum, which lasts until Thursday, March 13, 2008 and which is being held concurrently with the third European Ele-drive Transportation Conference EET-2008 organized by the European Association AVERE. A total of over 350 experts from all over the world are expected. The programme consists of one plenary at the beginning and one at the end of the event, 15 blocks of presentations, one poster exhibition and three panel discussions.