BMW KERS shocks mechanic to ground

BMW-Sauber has been testing, as have all of the other F1 teams, a new transmission that regenerates energy that is dispersed. This helps lower emissions of the Formula 1 racecars, and helps to promote more cost effective F1 cars.

This system is known as KERS, or Kinetic Energy Recovery System. I won’t even go into how the hell it works, because I will just get way too technical… But let’s just say the system isn’t working the way everyone had hoped. It is taking too much effort and time to try and get the system right and not make it kill the crew.

BMW-Sauber had a mishap at their last test at the Spanish Jerez Circuit with Christian Klien test driving. The car returns to the pits after the test run. One mechanic reaches out to touch the car and is shocked to the ground from the KERS.

Here is what BMW-Sauber had to say about the incident, “During testing of the KERS car at the Jerez track this morning, there was an incident involving a mechanic. When the car returned to the pits, he touched it and suffered an electric shock. He sustained slight injuries to his left hand and grazing on his left arm.”

Sounds like there is a lot of work to be done. And this system is supposed to be in every F1 racer for the 2009 season. Hmm…

Video after the jump.

You can also read more about the KERS from Motor Authority

Article by Josh from RawAutos.com

[Source: WCF via Formula 1.com]

3 Responses to “BMW KERS shocks mechanic to ground”

Mark says:

July 30, 2008 at 8:15 pm

BLOODY scary indeed!!!!

Cheers,

Horatiu B. says:

July 30, 2008 at 8:26 pm

WOW! That shows that each job has their own risks

RawAutos says:

July 30, 2008 at 9:54 pm

That’s right kids. That’s why Hybrid’s are more dangerous than anything else in your car…