Racing and industrial technology: what is it and how does an energy recovery system work?

Energy recovery in electric vehicle racing is a technology that allows vehicles to “recycle” kinetic energy during braking and store it in an energy storage system such as a battery for later use.

This is achieved through the use of a regenerative braking system, also known as energy recovery brakes, which are responsible for converting the vehicle’s kinetic energy into electricity using an electrical generator.

When the driver brakes, the generator kicks in and converts the car’s kinetic energy into electricity, which is stored in the batteries. This technology can also be activated using the shift paddle, allowing manual control of the amount of energy recovered.

racing application

The saved energy is used to power the electric motor, which reduces the need to drain the battery, gives you extra miles of speed during races, significantly improves the vehicle’s energy efficiency and extends the life of the power source.

In electric car racing such as Formula E, an energy recovery system is needed to allow single-seat cars to complete the E-Prix on a single battery charge.

It is also important to maximize the vehicle’s energy efficiency by reducing the load on the battery, which will allow drivers in the 100% electric single seater category to use full power throughout the race.

In short, this technology makes the most of the kinetic energy generated during the braking process. The pressure and resistance that the pilots put on the pedal, plus the force of the car, produces energy wear that can feel lost. However, the energy recovery system is responsible for receiving it, “recycling” and turning it back into energy for use at certain points in the competition.

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