| [ Total Views: 1047 | Total Replies: 19 | Thread Id: 94780 ] |
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 grinderman
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| posted on January 13th, 2012 at 08:45 PM |
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VW group is making rotaries again!
HA HA I knew the title would get your attention. Well its sought of true........in the latest top gear magazine the vw group are making an electric
version of the audi a1 and a3 with a range of about 130 kms but unlike the mitsubishi mi-ev they can keep driving thanks to a tiny 200cc rotary engine
that is basically a high powered alternator/battery charger called a 'range extender'. So this quick and comfy car can drive long distances at an
average of 1.8lt/100ks or over 130mpg!!!! I love the simplicity of the aircooled vw's but you've got to admire modern efficiency.
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h
A.k.a.: Towely BuMpEr KING! ILLegal ALIEN on a roadtrip
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| posted on January 14th, 2012 at 07:30 AM |
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amazeer
A.k.a.: Surly Duff
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| posted on January 14th, 2012 at 07:00 PM |
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yeah good marketing figures. At the end your 100ks you have used $2.50 of petrol but how much money have you spent on electricity? Why would they use
notoriously thirsty rotary engines? Can only assume for high rpms.
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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 posted on January 14th, 2012 at 07:06 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by grinderman
HA HA I knew the title would get your attention. Well its sought of true........in the latest top gear magazine the vw group are making an electric
version of the audi a1 and a3 with a range of about 130 kms but unlike the mitsubishi mi-ev they can keep driving thanks to a tiny 200cc rotary engine
that is basically a high powered alternator/battery charger called a 'range extender'. So this quick and comfy car can drive long distances at an
average of 1.8lt/100ks or over 130mpg!!!! I love the simplicity of the aircooled vw's but you've got to admire modern efficiency.
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Problem with the rotaries...
they just use too much petrol...
Mazda tried for years... without success...
whatever happened the the Australian orbital engine???
the company is still going [in WA] not sure if they were rotary of not... Orbital??
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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waveman1500
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| posted on January 15th, 2012 at 03:01 PM |
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The reason for using a rotary engine is to keep it as small as possible. The idea is that in normal urban usage, the engine will never have to kick
in, so you don't need it to be a particularly good engine. It just needs to be small to tuck out of the way and leave room for the electric
drivetrain, power electronics and batteries. This is also why the petrol engine in the Chevy (and soon to be Holden) Volt is very low-tech. No direct
injection, no turbocharging, just a plain old 1.4 litre four cylinder. The engine doesn't need to be sophisticated because the electric motor is
supposed to do almost all the work. If you only want to charge batteries with your engine then it only needs to run at one engine speed, like a
generator.
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AA003
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| posted on January 15th, 2012 at 03:12 PM |
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I agree with waveman but how did they arrive at those consumption figures?
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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SuperOwen
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| posted on January 15th, 2012 at 05:04 PM |
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Im guessing that as the petrol engine is used to charge the batteries, rather than as a hybrid drive system it only needs to run in a finely tuned and
efficient rpm/load range. I think the clever engineers at vw would have their reasons for going this route!
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68AutoBug
A.k.a.: Lee Noonan
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| posted on January 15th, 2012 at 06:29 PM |
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Yes
an engine is much more efficient when running at one speed...
just charging a battery... electrics do all the work...
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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amazeer
A.k.a.: Surly Duff
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| posted on January 15th, 2012 at 07:14 PM |
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which means the mpg figure is complete utter marketing bullshit.
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SuperOwen
Fahrvergnugen
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| posted on January 16th, 2012 at 03:59 PM |
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Not really, put x amount of gallons in and drive y amount of miles 
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amazeer
A.k.a.: Surly Duff
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| posted on January 16th, 2012 at 06:36 PM |
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Interesting thought, If I spin the alternator on my maybach with one does my fuel consumption go up or down?
Fuel consumption figures on these things are completely useless if they dont tell us the cost of plugging it into the wall. Who gives a shit if it
gets 130km on $2 worth of petrol if it costs $20 to recharge it when I get home. Who gives a shit if it has near zero emissions coming out the back if
its burnt enough coal to out-CO2 a top fueller?
Throw in a couple of ahhh bras to make it worth my while at least.
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AA003
A.k.a.: Phill
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| posted on January 16th, 2012 at 06:57 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by amazeer
Fuel consumption figures on these things are completely useless if they dont tell us the cost of plugging it into the wall. Who gives a shit if it
gets 130km on $2 worth of petrol if it costs $20 to recharge it when I get home. Who gives a shit if it has near zero emissions coming out the back if
its burnt enough coal to out-CO2 a top fueller?
Throw in a couple of ahhh bras to make it worth my while at least.
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Aussies are too dumb to understand that.
eg Prius
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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Subarugears
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| posted on January 16th, 2012 at 08:08 PM |
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Would be awesome if solar panel and wind farm generated energy recharged the batteries though - then I reckon you'd be on your way. I am so hoping
that photovoltaic paint gets commercialised and worthwhile. Coat whatever car/house/bus/truck/train you want in the stuff and let it charge as it's
using it, plus store when stationary.
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SuperOwen
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| posted on January 16th, 2012 at 08:44 PM |
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Has anyone got a link with more info? I googled it but couldnt find anything.
Wikipedia hs some good basic readibg regarding efficiencies and ratings for hybrids etc. Good old coal power is the problem it seems still wrt co2.
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VolksVair
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| posted on January 17th, 2012 at 08:05 PM |
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Whats the life span of the batteries in electric cars? hate to foot the bill for replacement, sorta takes out the savings one would have gained out
of going electric, & what about disposing of all these batteries, sorry if I have gone a bit off track cheers Frank
Adventure Before Dimentia
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waveman1500
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| posted on January 17th, 2012 at 09:41 PM |
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Most manufacturers are generally agreeing that electric vehicle batteries will last roughly 8-10 years. The current replacement cost of an electric
vehicles' battery can be $10-15 grand or even more, but in 10 years who knows? By the time your car is ready for a replacement battery pack, may be
able to upgrade it to double the range for half the price.
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vlad01
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| posted on January 19th, 2012 at 03:00 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by Subarugears
Would be awesome if solar panel and wind farm generated energy recharged the batteries though - then I reckon you'd be on your way. I am so hoping
that photovoltaic paint gets commercialised and worthwhile. Coat whatever car/house/bus/truck/train you want in the stuff and let it charge as it's
using it, plus store when stationary.
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We need fusion powered electric drag cars for everyday normal commuting....end of story!
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE |
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vlad01
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| posted on January 19th, 2012 at 03:01 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by AA003
| Quote: | Originally
posted by amazeer
Fuel consumption figures on these things are completely useless if they dont tell us the cost of plugging it into the wall. Who gives a shit if it
gets 130km on $2 worth of petrol if it costs $20 to recharge it when I get home. Who gives a shit if it has near zero emissions coming out the back if
its burnt enough coal to out-CO2 a top fueller?
Throw in a couple of ahhh bras to make it worth my while at least.
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Aussies are too dumb to understand that.
eg Prius
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You got that dam right!
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE |
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vlad01
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| posted on January 19th, 2012 at 03:08 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by VolksVair
Whats the life span of the batteries in electric cars? hate to foot the bill for replacement, sorta takes out the savings one would have gained out
of going electric, & what about disposing of all these batteries, sorry if I have gone a bit off track cheers Frank
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No you're right and what about the energy and exotic materials used to produce these so called eco friendly cars.
I bet a rust old kingswood would have smaller ecological footprint than of one these weird experimental hydrid cars if you took into consideration the
whole life cyle of the cars from raw minertals and resorses to disposal and recyling.
Sorry, there is something wrong with this forum as the spell checker doesn't work. Only on this forum though  workers everywhere else.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE |
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dannyarmstrong
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| posted on January 20th, 2012 at 09:17 AM |
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Quote from a well known British motor journalist! I hate the prius so much!!!
"The batteries in your prius, are lithium mined in Canada, turned into a chemical foam in China, and then made into batteries in Japan, put into a
car, and then shipped across thousands of miles of ocean"
...1971 - 1302 - My main lady in life!
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