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Porsche’s Hybrid Racer Hauls Ass, Saves Gas | Autopia | Wired.com

The car, based on the wickedly quick 911 GT3 R, isn’t a hybrid in the traditional sense. It uses a kinetic energy recovery system, and instead of a battery, the energy is stored in a flywheel. The system stores 0.2 kilowatts of energy, which is enough to provide an additional 150 kilowatts (203 horsepower) for an eight-second burst.

“That doesn’t sound like much, but the system recharges very quickly,” said Dieter Steinhauser, head of motorsports R&D. “For performance applications, a battery recharges too slowly.”

The flywheel, mounted where the passenger seat would be, spins at up to 40,000 RPM. It provides juice to a pair of 75 kilowatt (101 hp) motors, one per front wheel. The rear wheels are driven by a 4.0-liter flat-six good for 470 horsepower.

Interesting article.