The Formula 1 Power Unit
The beating heart of the Formula 1 car, more than just an engine
The Formula 1 car is capable of reaching speeds of over 200mph and positions can be separated by milliseconds. Clearly, engine efficiency and producing extraordinary power are both of vital importance.
When you drive a car, energy is lost through heat from the exhaust gases, heat from the engine and heat from braking, to name but a few. But what if you could convert this useless energy back into kinetic energy (the energy of movement)?
The engineers of the formula 1 teams have turned an ordinary engine, into an extraordinary power unit.
The MGU-K (one part of the ERS, discussed on a later page) can save up to 2 mega-joules of energy from being wasted. That is the same as 750 grams of black powder explosives.
The MGU-H (also part of the ERS) is unrestricted by the regulations. In practice it produces 7 mega-joules of energy for the car to use as an extra power boost. [1]
Altogether, it means formula 1 cars have smaller and lighter engines than ever.
Per lap, the formula 1 power units produce a huge 40MJ and save 50 kg of fuel per race. [2]