I see where Audi is introducing the 2011 A1 e-tron electric car with a
254cc rotary engine to power a 15kw generator.  Does anyone have any
info on this engine?

Mike Perry
Long Ez
N981MP
Mazda 13B

If true it is probably the SuperTech engine

http://www.wankelsupertec.de/

Where did you see the info Mike?

Paul Lamar
--

 March issue of Popular Mechanics, page 36.

 Mike Perry

 Here is the web site.

 http://tinyurl.com/5t5sozb

 That is a tiny engine. My guess is 25 HP.

 "The Wankel weighs in at just 154 lbs and displaces just 254 cc of
volume
in its single rotor.  The whole unit is small enough to sit below
the cargo
floor of the A1.  Running at a constant 5,000 rpm, the rotary motor can
extend the A1 e-tron's range to 130 miles.  Why not longer?  The
fuel tank
holds only 3.17 gallons.  With the Wankel running, Audi says the A1
e-tron
will return about 124 miles per gallon U.S."


 That weight must be engine and generator.


 Paul Lamar



Hi,  if you follow the AVL link to their 2010 magazine there is a
picture
and a little info on their rotary/generator range extender.

Murry I. Rozansky

Thanks for the tip Murry.

https://www.avl.com/media-publications

I can't tell much about the intake and exhaust system
but it looks like one could saw off the generator and use
just the engine. It has an interesting shape for the depression
in the rotor. I have seen other similar shapes in other Wankels
and it seems to be a promising area for development.

The key is rotor cooling. It does not look like a charged
cooled rotor so that is promising. It appears to be
an oil cooled rotor.

Paul Lamar

-----------------------------------------------------------
With a bit of gimp enhancement I can see a peripheral port. Could
be intake or it could be exhaust. The toothed wheel on the right
looks like ignition and tach trigger. From the gap in the toothed
wheel we are roughly looking at the spark area.



Paul Lamar


Paul,It appears to have aluminum side housings with an iron wear
surface sandwich construction.  If available for purchase I would
definitely leave the generator housing for aircraft use. It is water
cooled so putting the PSRU planetary and oil in the bellhousing would
provide cooling for the geartrain. That would allow gear lube to be used
for the PSRU.  It appears to have enough cooling volume  that
turbocharging might be possible.Without the generator some type of
recoil starter might be incorporated to get it running like on an
ultralight.

george grimes

As a car this concept 3D jpg will work much better. Same small
rotary mounted on the front of a two rotor for cruise.

The trouble with range extenders is once you are out of battery you
have a 2500 pound car powered by a 25 HP motor. Hill climbing or
acceleration is no longer available.

With my scheme you don't give up hill climbing and acceleration. The
two rotor is always willing and able to climb hills rapidly and accelerate rapidly.

No batteries. No extra weight for batteries. Cheaper! No powerful
heavy electric motors and expensive controllers. It is all done
with a one way clutch.

http://www.rotaryeng.net/RX8-TC-eng3.html

Paul Lamar