Wrightbus Galgorm Industrial Estate, Fenaghy Road, Galgorm, Ballymena Co. Antrim N. Ireland BT42 1PY www.wrightsgroup.com

Flywheel HybridWrightbus is constantly striving to develop buses that are ever more fuel efficient and have enhanced environmental performance. As part of this drive and in close cooperation with a number of key partners, we have developed a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) which utilises Flywheel technology, in an exciting collaborative project.

Along with our partners Flybrid Automotive, Arriva, Voith DIWA Transmissions and Productiv, the Flybrid KERS project seeks to unlock the potential of harvesting energy from vehicle braking systems.

A prototype vehicle has been fitted with the Flybrid KERS system with the aim of exploring potential fuel savings, testing the in-service reliability of the technology and evaluating the commercial viability of the system in terms of economic payback.

Flywheel Hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System uses a high speed flywheel to capture kinetic energy and decelerate a bus. This stored energy is then transferred mechanically back to the wheels and used to accelerate the vehicle, offering potentially significant fuel savings by reducing the engine power that is required to accelerate. KINETIC ENERGY

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Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)

Engine

Transmission

Drive axle with PTO

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Flywheel KERS

Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)Flywheel Hybrid Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) uses a high speed flywheel to capture kinetic energy and decelerate a bus. This stored energy is then transferred mechanically back to the wheels and used to accelerate the vehicle, offering potentially significant fuel savings by reducing the engine power that is required to accelerate.

The Flybrid unit itself is fitted parallel to the transmission on the driveline and is linked to the rear axle by means of an additional prop shaft. Externally there is no visual difference from a ‘standard’ production Euro 6 Wrightbus StreetLite bus. However, the adoption of flywheel technology requires significant engineering and software integration, requiring significant collaboration between the project’s technical partners Voith and Productiv.

An extensive programme of testing has already taken place at Flybrid’s Silverstone development facility and in service trials with Arriva using the prototype vehicle are shortly due to commence.

Innovate UKThe project has been part funded by Innovate UK. Innovate UK is the new name for the Technology Strategy Board - the UK’s innovation agency. Taking a new idea to market is a challenge. Innovate UK funds, supports and connects innovative businesses through a unique mix of people and programmes to accelerate sustainable economic growth. For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org

A Powerful PartnershipThe Flybrid KERS project brings together five partners in an innovative, long term programme.

Wrightbus Making buses in Northern Ireland for customers around the world, Wrightbus employs almost 2,000 people at its European manufacturing HQ in Ballymena.

The company has earned a reputation for innovative vehicle designs, a large and innovative product portfolio and investment in advanced engineering.

Its recent success is underlined by the contract win for the design and build of the prestigious New Bus for London (now called the New Routemaster) and also considerable accomplishments in many export markets, including Hong Kong, Singapore and Las Vegas.

Arriva plcArriva is one of the largest providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing some 54,500 people and delivering more than 2.2 billion passenger journeys every year.

Arriva provide transport services including buses, trains, commuter coaches and waterbuses, and operate in 14 European countries: Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Arriva is part of Deutsche Bahn, one of the world’s leading passenger transport and logistics service providers, and is responsible for Deutsche Bahn’s regional passenger transport services outside of Germany.

ProductivProductiv bridges the gap between small enterprises developing leading edge low-carbon technology and large vehicle manufacturers. The company provides technology developers with all the support they need to get their technologies into production, offering a clear path through the challenges of vehicle manufacturer new-product introduction.

Using automotive industry standards and processes, Productiv enables vehicle manufacturers to work with technology developers from outside the established supply chain. Through its core business supporting technology developers and initiatives such as The Proving Factory®, Productiv is leading the transformation of the UK into the global centre for low-carbon automotive technology industrialisation.

Voith DIWA Transmission for BusesAs of today, over 200,000 Voith DIWA transmissions have been supplied to transport operators and OEMs throughout the world. They have proven themselves in large cities with high traffic volumes such as Hong Kong, London andRome.

Voith Turbo manufactures automatic transmissions specifically for the stop-start cycle of buses. The DIWA’s first gear replaces the first two gears on a conventional automatic gearbox cutting fuel consumption. It reduces gear shifts at lower speeds giving a more comfortable ride for passengers.

Flybrid Automotive (now part of the Torotrak Group)The Flybrid® Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) is a market leader in the field of fully mechanical hybrid technology, using a high speed flywheel to capture kinetic energy and decelerate the vehicle. This stored energy is then transferred mechanically back to the wheels and used to accelerate the vehicle, offering significant fuel savings by reducing the engine power required to accelerate.

Technology developers Flybrid Automotive Ltd are now part of the Torotrak Group, facilitating in-house manufacture and customer-lead productionisation of the technology for a number of markets including buses, off-highway equipment and road cars.

The aim of the project is to realise a 15% fuel saving – this in turn would allow us to achieve a five year payback on the likely incremental cost.

Flywheel hybrid