Lotus Reveals 1.2L Three-Cylinder Range Extender Engine
Sep 8, 2009 | 09:55 AM
#1
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Lotus Reveals 1.2L Three-Cylinder Range Extender Engine Lotus has developed an in-house engine for a hybrid-drive vehicle that they will debut at the Frankfurt motor show next week.
The all-aluminum, 1.2 liter, 3-cylinder Range Extender engine was developed by Lotus Engineering and is one of the first petrol/gasoline power plants to be engineered specifically for a hybrid drivetrain.
Lotus claims the engine, designed as lightweight and highly efficient, is also optimized to reduce costs in its construction. It uses a two-valve port fuel injection system and has an output of 15 kW at 1,500 rpm and 35 kW at 3,500 rpm. The engine weighs a mere 56 kg. It works by either powering the electric motor that propels the car directly, or supplying current to charge the batteries from which the electric motor can also be run.
Developed as part of a project by the U.K. Technology Strategy Board, the engine is intended for use in a large sedan with an emission rating of less than 120 g/km.
Simon Wood, Lotus Engineering's Technical Director, believes advantages are to be gained by designing an engine to be used in a hybrid set-up only. "Most series hybrid vehicles that are currently being developed will use adaptations of existing, conventional engines which are therefore compromised in the efficiency that they can achieve."
The engine provides a peak torque of 107 Nm at 2500 rpm. Lotus did not release any details about what kind of electric motor the Range Extender could be coupled to.
The all-aluminum, 1.2 liter, 3-cylinder Range Extender engine was developed by Lotus Engineering and is one of the first petrol/gasoline power plants to be engineered specifically for a hybrid drivetrain.
Lotus claims the engine, designed as lightweight and highly efficient, is also optimized to reduce costs in its construction. It uses a two-valve port fuel injection system and has an output of 15 kW at 1,500 rpm and 35 kW at 3,500 rpm. The engine weighs a mere 56 kg. It works by either powering the electric motor that propels the car directly, or supplying current to charge the batteries from which the electric motor can also be run.
Developed as part of a project by the U.K. Technology Strategy Board, the engine is intended for use in a large sedan with an emission rating of less than 120 g/km.
Simon Wood, Lotus Engineering's Technical Director, believes advantages are to be gained by designing an engine to be used in a hybrid set-up only. "Most series hybrid vehicles that are currently being developed will use adaptations of existing, conventional engines which are therefore compromised in the efficiency that they can achieve."
The engine provides a peak torque of 107 Nm at 2500 rpm. Lotus did not release any details about what kind of electric motor the Range Extender could be coupled to.
Sep 8, 2009 | 02:43 PM
#4
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lotus has never been an engine development powerhouse. that's why they use toyota engines LOL...
they are better off developing lightweight chassis and suspension IMO.
there is no mention of any efficiency benchmark of this 1.2L against say a Honda or Toyota hybrid engine. if that's what they are driving towards, a comparison would be helpful.
they are better off developing lightweight chassis and suspension IMO.
there is no mention of any efficiency benchmark of this 1.2L against say a Honda or Toyota hybrid engine. if that's what they are driving towards, a comparison would be helpful.
Sep 8, 2009 | 02:58 PM
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I think they're saying this range extender would be applied to a drive train that is specifically designed for hybrid use, not using an adapted conventional power plant. So, the range extender isn't actually functional yet to be used as a benchmark against currently produced hybrid motors.
Sep 8, 2009 | 04:50 PM
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I think they're saying this range extender would be applied to a drive train that is specifically designed for hybrid use, not using an adapted conventional power plant. So, the range extender isn't actually functional yet to be used as a benchmark against currently produced hybrid motors.
Last edited by djantlive; Sep 8, 2009 at 04:53 PM.
Sep 8, 2009 | 06:46 PM
#7
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Could be interesting but Lotus should already know that batteries add a LOT of weight to a vehicle. Just look at the Tesla: with the motors, battery packs, and controller, it weighs 900+lbs more than the Lotus Elise it's based on.
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