Who's got it and who hasn't?

[Andy B]

I was under the impression that all teams were using KERS this season but it seems not Lotus declare thay are not so who else is not using KERS?
I would have thought this is going to hurt Lotus!!

[Dare]

Virgin and HRT aren't using KERS this season and Lotus
isn't at the start,so they may add it later

[Jericoke]

Virgin and HRT aren't using KERS this season and Lotus
isn't at the start,so they may add it later

I was under the impression it was mandatory.  Are non KERS team required to carry extra ballast to make up for it?  Or are the teams that aren't going to score any points given a bit of a free pass because the sport is supposed to be 'affordable'?

[Dare]

Here's the rule Jeri





KERS units will be optional for all teams, after not being utilised in 2010 following a team agreement banning the devices.[100] Although a proposal by Flybrid to provide mandatory units to the entire grid was not approved, to encourage all teams to run the system the minimum weight of the car will increase from 620 kilograms (1,367 lb) to 640 kilograms (1,411 lb), compensating for the extra weight required

[cosworth151]

I'm also not sure about what types of KERS will be allowed. I've read that only electrical sistems would be allowed, and I've also read that Williams would be allowed to use its mechanical (flywheel) system.

[John S]

Here's the rule Jeri


KERS units will be optional for all teams, after not being utilised in 2010 following a team agreement banning the devices.[100] Although a proposal by Flybrid to provide mandatory units to the entire grid was not approved, to encourage all teams to run the system the minimum weight of the car will increase from 620 kilograms (1,367 lb) to 640 kilograms (1,411 lb), compensating for the extra weight required

Yeah you're right Dare, article 4.1 of the technical regulations states -
Minimum weight : The weight of the car must not be less than 640kg at all times during the Event.
So cars without KERS will need to carry ballast if the team have not built in the weight.


On the question of type of KERS, this appears to be up to the teams as article 1.20 simply states -
Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) : A system that is designed to recover kinetic energy from the car during braking, store that energy and make it available to propel the car.
The parts of article 5 on KERS only specifies amounts of stored energy, when it can be recovered, it's control & release. No mention of collection method.

[lkjohnson1950]

KERS is expensive. The new teams must either spend the money to develop their own system or buy one from an established team. I think they feel their money can make more gains for them in other areas. So far, only Lotus seems to have closed the gap to the midfield. OZ will be interesting.

Lonny

[cosworth151]

I can see a few advantages that the non-KERS teams might use. They can run a shorter wheelbase than the KERS teams. They can also better distribute the weight around the car.

As you say, Lonny, Melbourne will be interesting.

[stealthhaggis]

I'm also not sure about what types of KERS will be allowed. I've read that only electrical sistems would be allowed, and I've also read that Williams would be allowed to use its mechanical (flywheel) system.

Williams may be allowed to but I read they were using a battery type for now.

[Wats-on]

As far as I know now, only the three new teams - Lotus, Virgin and HRT - are non-Kers-cars all season (I've read that Lotus might be without it all year). I'm not so sure about Force India and Toro Rosso, though.