We have to keep on repeating it until it becomes established that high end exotic car makers can also play into the hybrid, HEV market and it looks like Ferrari is serious about it.
The gist is that associating Ferrari with hybrid, HEV might make a few smile and even unleash emotional anti-hybrid sentiment from aficionados, the fact is that Ferrari has been working on the concept for some time. This time, they are serious about it. In order to meet the stringent European emission standards, the exotic car maker has no choice but too stray into uncharted territories with their very own hybrid system, even though they are only quoted as saying it is more for performance and handling.
Ferrari’s Hybrid System. Of course, you should be more or less aware of KERS by now and if you aren’t, check out our older post here. But this patent filed reveals a far more complex and no doubt, much higher performance system than your run of the mill HEVs. According to AutoCar, the HEV Ferrari will be a sort of dual-hybrid, where the electric motor will power a pair of wheels and the internal combustion engine, ICE the other.
Ferrari Dual And Parallel HEV. Ferrari has submitted 6 layouts that involve an ingenious dual hybrid system and a parallel one. To refresh your mind, a parallel system, as in the Prius has both electric motor and ICE power the wheels where as a series system, as in the Volt only has the electric motor power the wheels. Here are the six hybrid designs, via AutoBlogGreen.
Here are three of the six systems where you can see the company working from a simple parallel HEV to a dual (front and wheels axle powered by different energy source).
The Implications. Obviously having Ferrari working on a hybrid is an eyebrow raiser for the company known for its singing V12. Series hybrids is the next logical step away from parallel hybrid and it will be interesting to see how Ferrari develops the concept.