latest news about mazda\'s rotary engine...

[spoddy]

well just read this about whats happening with the next rotary engine from mazda, doesn\'t make for great reading if true, 2017 ?

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=24111

[Grant Monkhouse]

2017 & lasers?! Is this a James bond film script or something?

[B.Martin]

Will be cool, until then its upto us guys to the the RE alive!!

[Prof]

2017 & lasers?! Is this a James bond film script or something?

Laser ignition makes sense - but I can see the issue being reliability - for that size it means semiconductor lasers, and the engine bay environment is less than friendly - either electrically or with regard to temperatures, environmental contaminents, moisture...Also, how do you keep the glass/optics clean in something like a rotary engine where you are injecting oil on apex seals that travel past the ignition point ?

[dthebuk]

Why are they still trying to design rotaries that drive the wheels? I don\'t get it.

Mazda probably have some of the most developed rotaries ever, why don\'t they focus that knowledge on making small rotaries for range extenders etc. Its the way forward!

[Rzla]

Just bring out another turbo rotary and leave it at that! Since the rx7 has stopped there has not been turbo rotary engine and Mazda need to bring it back! And asap

[Grant Monkhouse]

Laser ignition makes sense - but I can see the issue being reliability - for that size it means semiconductor lasers, and the engine bay environment is less than friendly - either electrically or with regard to temperatures, environmental contaminents, moisture...Also, how do you keep the glass/optics clean in something like a rotary engine where you are injecting oil on apex seals that travel past the ignition point ?

It could be possible that don\'t need to lubricate anymore, exotic coatings etc? That\'s what the drones equipped with rotaries are like.

Screened cables can sort problems with electromagnetic interference on vital electrical systems. Such as ignition.

Keeping the lasers clean I don\'t have an answer for. Maybe some wet wipes?

[Grant Monkhouse]

Why are they still trying to design rotaries that drive the wheels? I don\'t get it.

Mazda probably have some of the most developed rotaries ever, why don\'t they focus that knowledge on making small rotaries for range extenders etc. Its the way forward!

Range extended???

[Prof]

I\'m guessing he means rotary powered electrical genny to top up a battery powered car - but might as well use it to drive the wheels tbh - and use a \'nicer\' fuel like Hydrogen.

[B.Martin]

Didn\'t they make a hydrogen RX8?

[dthebuk]

range extenders are the way forward. Cheap to run, and depending on the size of the motors and battery they can give you a lot of power here and there from a small engine.

Also the rotary is ideal for this due to its small size

[Grant Monkhouse]

They do have a fleet if hydrogen powered rx8s somewhere in Europe. Some e o friendly country.

[Will66]

Audi did a concept car with an electric powertrain and a wankel rotary powered range extender.

Also there a about 100 or so Hydrogen powered RX8s knocking around, apparently there are a few in Norway, they can either run on petrol or hydrogen.  On petrol they are a normal RX8 on hydrogen they have about half the normal power but emit zero CO2.

[CharlieP]

range extenders are the way forward. Cheap to run, and depending on the size of the motors and battery they can give you a lot of power here and there from a small engine.

Also the rotary is ideal for this due to its small size

Is that just another process for energy loss though?

[shaunwil]

We chatted about lasers not that long ago. They are solid state ones without a lens so they don\'t need to be clean.

Shaun