It's small, powerful, efficient, and partially electric. We're not describing a car but, in fact, an engine technology that is being implemented for new Volvo vehicles. It's being called KERS, which is short for Kinetic Energy Recovery System, and it's looking to revolutionize the way engines work for the automaker in the foreseeable future.
Combined with a new four-cylinder turbo engine, the KERS generates energy that reduces the need for the engine to be on at all times. Before testing began, the automaker claimed that the system could reduce up to 20 percent of fuel usage. Now, a $1 million grant from the Swedish Energy Agency and lots of testing later, the results have shown the system to be even more effective than expected.
Performing better than a six-cylinder turbo, the four-cylinder KERS-equipped turbo brought fuel savings as high as 25 percent. The vehicle used for the testing was a Volvo S60 on public roads. With the engine controlling the front wheels and the KERS attached to the rear axle, energy is gathered when the vehicle brakes. That energy is used to start the vehicle moving from a standstill and during cruising speeds, to reduce use of the engine.
The automaker hasn't announced which vehicles will receive this system or when, but we're crossing our fingers for some hybrid integration to increase fuel economy even further. If you're in the market for a new Volvo yourself, come on down to Dyer & Dyer Volvo in Chamblee, GA. Our experts are ready and waiting to help you pick out that perfect vehicle will turn your daily commutes from dull to dynamic.