Williams F1 sells Williams Hybrid Power to GKN for £8 million

Williams F1 has sold their Williams Hybrid Power business, which makes a flywheel that recoups brake energy, to GKN for £8 million.

Back in 2010 we reported on a flywheel developed by Williams F1 that recoups energy from braking, and was fitted to a Porsche 911 GT3 to give an extra boost of power.

Williams F1 developed the Flywheel technology with a start-up company, which it bought out for £1.5 million in 2010, and now that company – which became Williams Hybrid Power – has been sold to GKN in a deal worth £8 million – and a share of sales revenue going forward – and is being renamed GKN Hybrid Power.

The plan is to use the flywheel technology to reduce fuel consumption of transport that is constantly stopping and starting – it’s currently being used on a bus operating in London – and  Williams expect it could cut fuel use by up to 30 per cent.

But Williams don’t feel they’re in a position to further develop the technology, manufacture it and roll it out in a major way, and the deal with GKN should make that happen.

Phil Swash, Chief Executive of GKN, said:

This acquisition is a great opportunity for GKN to take a unique technology to global markets, helping solve the emissions and efficiency challenges faced by mass transit companies around the world.

The first goal is to get the flywheel product in to service across the UK in buses by the end of the year.

It’s a promising technology – although perhaps not scalable for car use – and a great demonstration of how F1 technology can filter down in to the ‘real’ world.