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Read an article that Mazda may bring back the rotary engine. However, it'll be powering a generator like in the Chevy Volt. They say it's light weight and small size makes it an ideal engine to power the generator while running at a constant RPM. Personally, I feel a small diesel engine would be ideal to power a generator in such vehicles. What do you think?
Yeah, I have wondered why they haven't done diesel in these types of cars. It works great for locomotives on railroads. They should do it like trains, diesel-electric cars. Ditch the batteries, their high cost, lousy range, and weight, have diesel power a generator that powers the electric propulsion. At least as a stopgap measure anyway. Batteries are what are holding back electric cars for the most part. I don't see that changing anytime soon. I imagine a diesel engine could be a lot smaller for powering a generator then the whole car.
But I guess the subject of this thread is the rotary engine. Hopefully they can work the kinks out of it. If I remember the mileage wasn't great, not promising with the upcoming CAFE standards.
Thirsty and the moving parts they have are fairly large, being that it's the entire rotor. The metal on metal movement wasn't good, seals were used to seal the combustion chamber, but those wore out over time which would require a rebuild and because the wankel's limited use most common mechanics had no clue what to do with them...end result, a niche engine. It's not a bad design, and creates GREAT power to weight, and power for size ratios...but I'd wonder the reasons for Mazda going through with this other than a desire to feel nostalgic.
I'd also recommend the diesel engine, when you can have a diesel power a car it'll net upwards of 50+ mpg...an even smaller diesel being used to only turn a generator to recharge batteries seems like a nobrainer...I don't know why the Volt didn't come with a dang go-kart or motorcycle sized powerplant as opposed to the 2.0L Ecotec...but I'm not a GM engineer either.
A conventional piston engine has seals for the combustion chamber. They are called piston rings. The one major moving part of a rotary is the rotor, but even though it is larger, its motion is not as erratic as the start stop of a piston. Rotary engines are smooth and rev very easily. The engine is very reliable in non-turbo form. Its long standing achilles heal is fuel consumption.
Perhaps Mazda has some new tricks that make its use as a generator power source beneficial.
Read an article that Mazda may bring back the rotary engine. However, it'll be powering a generator like in the Chevy Volt. They say it's light weight and small size makes it an ideal engine to power the generator while running at a constant RPM. Personally, I feel a small diesel engine would be ideal to power a generator in such vehicles. What do you think?
Small size and high-revving are assets, but the fuel efficiency of rotaries just sucks for the amount of power they produce.
The problem with diesels is that they don't handle the constant start-stop cycles inherent to hybrid applications very well -- not to mention they're more expensive, and cost is already a sensitive issue when you're dealing with the expensive of not just one but two powerplants, the hardware needed to manage the power from both, and a big-ass battery pack. Throw in difficulty meeting emissions requirements and you have a recipe for why diesel hybrids are almost non-existent in passenger-car applications, though auto companies are still working on it.
Small size and high-revving are assets, but the fuel efficiency of rotaries just sucks for the amount of power they produce.
The problem with diesels is that they don't handle the constant start-stop cycles inherent to hybrid applications very well -- not to mention they're more expensive, and cost is already a sensitive issue when you're dealing with the expensive of not just one but two powerplants, the hardware needed to manage the power from both, and a big-ass battery pack. Throw in difficulty meeting emissions requirements and you have a recipe for why diesel hybrids are almost non-existent in passenger-car applications, though auto companies are still working on it.
Not talking about a hybrid system like the Prius or Insight. This engine would fire up as battery power drops and then constantly run at a steady rate to power a generator to charge the batteries. Agree the rotary is thirsty. It's also low on torque, something a diesel has in abundance. As someone here said before, if they could eliminate the huge expensive batteries and go straight from generator to electric motor with some form of power regulation and storage (smaller and cheaper than current hybrid or Volt batteries) then there would be a cost savings in addition to saving poor nations from strip mining for rare minerals to make these batteries.
Not talking about a hybrid system like the Prius or Insight. This engine would fire up as battery power drops and then constantly run at a steady rate to power a generator to charge the batteries. Agree the rotary is thirsty. It's also low on torque, something a diesel has in abundance. As someone here said before, if they could eliminate the huge expensive batteries and go straight from generator to electric motor with some form of power regulation and storage (smaller and cheaper than current hybrid or Volt batteries) then there would be a cost savings in addition to saving poor nations from strip mining for rare minerals to make these batteries.
What is the value a car that runs as a series hybrid full-time?
I vote for mini turbine that cM run on just about anything that burns..
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Even lighter, even more compact, less maintenance, fewer moving parts, fewer ancillaey systems (lubrication for instance), etc. Jaguar is toying with the idea:
I wonder though if it's remotely plausible to meet emissions requirements with turbines any time soon.
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