Geneva Preview: Audi A1 e-tron extended range EV with Wankel rotary — Autoblog Green.

Audi still hasn’t released any photos of its new electric A1 concept but it has revealed some details of the car. Unlike the two previous e-tron sports car concepts that were both pure battery electric models, this one is a range extended electric vehicle (EV). Like the Chevrolet Volt, the A1 e-tron uses a smaller battery pack that allows it to go up to 31 miles on single charge with no emissions.

Once the battery is depleted, an internal combustion engine kicks on to drive a 15 kilowatt generator and keep the A1 going. However, unlike the Volt or Fisker Karma, the A1 is using a single rotor Wankel engine to drive the generator. While Wankels are not renowned for their fuel efficiency (much the opposite in fact) in this application it could work well thanks to its high power density.

The range with the Wankel running is bumped up by another 124 miles to a total of 155. With only a 15 kW generator available to sustain the battery, it will be interesting to see how much performance is degraded in that mode. Audi claims the A1 e-tron achieves 123.8 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the draft EU standard for ER-EVs. We should have more details tomorrow.

Other Makes: eBay Motors (item 290498324367 end time Nov-16-10 12:07:50 PST).

(2 sets) GM style front suspension
(2sets) Jaguar rear suspension
Holley fuel pump (GPH110)
(2) Mazda Twin rotary engines put together
(4) MSD ignitions (S200)
(2) Gas Tanks
Plexiglas windows
Corvette Steering Column
full set of led gauges
Custom made aluminum seat pans
Carbs (Dellorto 5388)
Racing Beat intake manifold
single rack-en pinion steering

May 31, 2010 – Mazda announced that it will return to this year’s 24 Hour of Le Mans race with a revolutionary rotary engine vehicle, the RX-8 Hydrogen RE sports coupe. The company, which won the 24h Le Mans Race in 1991 with the first and only rotary engine race car, will introduce the RX-8 Hydrogen RE sports coupe as a demonstration vehicle in the “Le Mans vers le future” (Le Mans into the Future) event.

Technobabble – Rotard Heaven, Germany’s Museum Autovision > MotoIQ > Magazine Articles.