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

I had a meeting with AVL two weeks ago and they proudly mentioned
they did the integration of their Rotary engine into the Audi A1.
More versions and different power ratings are apparently in the pipeline.

There you got your answer.
Randolph

Pardon my ignorance Randolph but who is AVL?
Is it this company?
https://www.avl.com/ic-engine

I had no idea they had a rotary engine.

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 bell housing
would provide cooling for the gear train. That would allow gear lube
to be used for the PSRU.  It appears to have enough cooling volume  that
turbo charging 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 fact
is most cars only require 25 HP or less to move up to 60 MPH.

The trouble with electric cars and range extenders is once you are
out of battery you have a 2500 pound to 3000 pound car powered by
a 25 HP motor. Hill climbing or acceleration is no longer available.
They are not general purpose cars. Fine if you can afford 2 or more
cars.

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

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


The second photo looks to have a fuel injector on the top of the port. And by
the location of the balance weight, the exhaust port should be below that one.
If that is the case, the rotor depression is backwards to the one in the Pat
Power rotor. Very interesting.

Dale Davies