London buses adopt Formula 1 technology

If you feel thrown around during your next bus ride, don't be too quick to blame an over exuberant driver - the forces exerted by a 15-ton bus constantly stopping and starting in traffic is very similar to those experienced by a Formula 1 car and engineers are taking advantage of this fact to pioneer fuel-saving technology.

Williams Hybrid Power, which is part of Williams Grand Prix Holdings, changed hands this week and the new owners plan to use it's newly acquired racing technology to make buses more efficient.

The Williams flywheel stores energy in the similar way to a potter's wheels. About the same size as a washing machine drum, and weighing 50 kg, the flywheel spins over 600 times every second. In so doing, it is claimed the technology could reduce bus fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent.

Six buses in London are already fitted with prototype flywheels. Unlike hybrid electric motors, which have to factory-fitted during manufacture, the flywheel can be retro-fitted.

Williams F1 first built its flywheel for its Formula 1 cars in 2009, but a change of rules meant the idea was dropped. Although it has little application for road cars, the Williams flywheel is well suited to heavier vehicles such as city buses.