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[ad#post_ad]Though Audi President Johan de Nysschen famously went on record calling the Volt "a car for idiots," apparenly the allure of the EREV was just too compelling.  The German automaker has pulled a complete 180 and has just unveiled an interesting extended range electric car concept of its own that shares surprising similarites to the Volt.

Based on the compact A1 platform, the Audi A1 e-tron is a 4 seat 2-door premium class vehicle that always drives by way of its 75 kw (102 hp) peak, 45 kw (61 hp) continuous electric motor.

It contains a "T-shaped" 12 kwh lithium ion battery pack that contains enough energy for 31 miles of all electric range.  After that, an on-board range extender kicks in to produce electricity for continued driving.

Audi is using a very small 254 cc single rotor Wankel engine for electricity production, running at a constant 5000 rpm for peak efficiency.  They have included a tiny 3.17 gallon gas tank and the option for drivers to manually switch the generator on and off as desired.   GPS is also used to determine from the route and destination whether to activate the generator which can output 15 kw of power.

Audi notes its use of the tiny engine generator and gas tank along with the required power electronics, thermal management and exhaust only weigh 154 pounds collectively.  The small single RPM generator operates nearly silently and vibration free.  "The Wankel engine in the back can barely be heard when it is running," Audi states.  A brake by wire system is employed and recaptures kinetic energy when slowing.

The 2600 pound car can do 0 to 60 in 10 seconds and has a top speed of 80 mph.  Total range with a full tank of gas after the battery is depleted is an additional 124 miles.  Audi reports this translates to 123 mpg combining the two modes using the current draft standard for EREV fuel economy.

The car can be recharged in 3 hours at 380 Volts.

Lighter and slower than the Volt, with less electric and total driving ranges, the A1 e-tron is specifically suited to the big or "mega" city environments.

Source ( Audi )

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A bit small for NA but it might work well in Europe. Glad Audi has seen the light!

 

Audi validates the EREV solution that GM invented for the VOLT. Do we know more about the Wankel genset?

 

The revolution is on the way!

Just as a note for people: 380V is available in Europe in larger homes. It is the phase to phase voltage at 220V to ground.

 

Without a doubt this is the best styled small EREV (or BEV) to date, other than the Volt & the Ampera ---and a far superior design to the incredibly ugly Nissan Leaf! BRAVO, AUDI!!!

 

The press release was obviously written by a non engineer.

The car has a 31.07 mile range and a 3.12 gallon tank with a 330.69 lb pack and a 154.32 lb engine with a total weight of 2623.5 lbs.

Every hear of rounding to significant digits folks? Good job at removing the nonsensical digits Lyle.

 

This is exciting news. They've taken a somewhat lower-tech approach with the manual ICE start/stop... but are using a more interesting generator technology.

I hope that translates into lower cost so more people can afford a practical electric vehicle. Such a close copy of the Volt concept shows how very much 'on track' GM is with their design.

 

What is the efficiency of a Wankel (rotary) engine compared to a regular 4-cycle Otto ICE?

 

Eugene (in LA) : What is the efficiency of a Wankel (rotary) engine compared to a regular 4-cycle Otto ICE?  
It is always less than a conventional engine. At idle it is a lot less but at load it is closer.

In an EREV, the engine is cargo most of the time. The weight savings of the engine when it isn't being used may outweigh the loss in efficiency.

 

"What is the efficiency of a Wankel (rotary) engine compared to a regular 4-cycle Otto ICE? "

Well, you could start by looking at the fuel efficiency of the Mazda RX-7 and RX-8... not so good. At the same time, if it's at a constant RPM (the rotary needs higher RPM to produce power) it might not be too bad. I can't in good conscience compare the generator engine Audi is using the the ones used by Mazda. It could be as bad as saying every 4-cylinder gets the same mpg. There would be no way of answering this question without getting all the specs on the engine. Or I guess if I wanted to dig out the calculator I could figure the efficiency based on the range after battery only range then determine that figure given the total claimed distance and tiny fuel tank. But even that has some margin of error.

 

Thank you Matthew and FRAG for clarification on Wankel engines. A few more historic details:

Felix Wankel invented the rotary engine in 1954 while working for NSU (Audi's sister company, under the Auto Union car company). In 1964 NSU launched the model Prinz with the first Wankel engine.

Eugene

 

May be the rotary type internal combustion engine and generator was engineered by AVL Graz?

 

Neat little genset.. note that wankel durability, oil consumption and gas economy has improved a lot from the original ones. Efficiency can be quite good. Double it up in size (two rotors) and it may be a good choice for the Volt.

 

Germany has a 380 volt grid?

It's interesting that they give both a peak and the continuous rating for the electric motor. I don't think we've ever been told what the continuous rating for the Volt's motor is, as I assume the 110+ kW output can't be sustained indefinitely.

 

Perfect car.

 

Greg Simpson : Germany has a 380 volt grid?It’s interesting that they give both a peak and the continuous rating for the electric motor.I don’t think we’ve ever been told what the continuous rating for the Volt’s motor is, as I assume the 110+ kW output can’t be sustained indefinitely.  
Europe has 380 V grid (3 phase).

 

If Audi can price this car right it should be a solid winner for them. The typical 8 cylinder Audi will be selling in much lower volume as the years push forward. This gives Audi engineering time to rework the A1 e-tron with advanced battery technology. I like this plan.

=D-Volt

 

Johan de Nysschen must have known nothing about this concept car. Amazing how the president of US ops is so far removed from where mother Audi is looking to take the company. Pretty sweet little commuter car. No volt but I'd take it over the leaf. Seems like a lot of "borrowing" from the volt design.

 

Greg Simpson : Germany has a 380 volt grid?It’s interesting that they give both a peak and the continuous rating for the electric motor.I don’t think we’ve ever been told what the continuous rating for the Volt’s motor is, as I assume the 110+ kW output can’t be sustained indefinitely.  
Hi Greg,

In Western Europe we have the possibility to ask the electric distribution company to install a 380V output for high power appliances. My old kitchen cooker was plugged in a 380V plug that I'll use (after having extended the line) in my garage for my future EV ou EREV.

Best regards,

JC NPNS

 

Dave K. : If Audi can price this car right it should be a solid winner for them. The typical 8 cylinder Audi will be selling in much lower volume as the years push forward. This gives Audi engineering time to rework the A1 e-tron with advanced battery technology. I like this plan.=D-Volt  
Hi Dave, and this car is made in Brussels (the capital of my country) in the old VW car building facility that Audi has revamped for the A1.

Regards,

JC NPNS

 

looks like a rip off of fiat 500

 

Matthew B : It is always less than a conventional engine. At idle it is a lot less but at load it is closer. In an EREV, the engine is cargo most of the time. The weight savings of the engine when it isn’t being used may outweigh the loss in efficiency.   (Quote)

Exactly! The less one uses the range extender the more advantage a lighter genset gains.

The NVH development savings along with improved packaging etc make it a very enticing choice.

 

Spell check
"vehilce"

 

One small nit-pick. I don't think "a car for idiots" should be in quotes. I don't think that is precisely what he said. In discussing the price, Mr De Nysschen said that at that price they would soon run out of idiots.

Granted, this implies "a car for idiots" but I don't think that is what he said.

Of course, given the price of Audi cars in the USA, all Audi drivers are idiots according the Mr. De Nysschen's logic.
John C. Briggs

 

This thing has a tiny engine/generator. I like it. It surely won't keep up with the Volt going up pikes peak with 4 - 220 Lb adults in the car but it does make for a lighter vehicle. 99% of the time, this engine should provide enough power on average to keep the car going at an adequate speed.