Some additional FACTS. With the possible exception of Williams who are using a different system than the Magneti Marrelli system the others are using, there are no clutches or torioidal gearboxes involved. The motor/generator is attached directly to the front of the crankshaft. Williams are using some sort of magnetically enhanced flywheel system that may use some sort of clutch and gearing system. I'm not real familiar with it.
By your theory, if the system gets its power from the engine then it could not charge if the engine wasn't running right? Well, imagine this scenario:
Take a complete and fully functional F1 car but remove the pistons, rods, cylinder heads, etc so that all you are left with is the block and crank with kers attached. Now tow this car up to speed (with it in gear of course) and realease the tow cable. Despite the fact that no power is coming from the engine, as soon as the driver hits the brakes it WILL CHARGE from the momentum of the car. This momentum is transferred from the rear tires through the halfshafts, gearbox, crankshaft and straight into the generator.
Don't let the fact that the motor/generator is attached straight to the car's engine blind you to the fact the power comes from the car's momentum.
Last edited by wingracer; 04-06-2009 at 07:35 AM.