Audi A1 e-tron Mini-Car Debuts-A Battery-Powered Cutie
March 28th, 2010 | Author: admin
Audi is no doubt a luxury brand capable of producing some spectacular additions to the automotive world. Take for instance, the new Audi A1 e-tron (not to be confused with the steak sauce).
The Audi A1 minicar made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this year, and like the Chevy Volt, it is powered by battery, using a gasoline motor to recharge its batteries. There is where the similarities end. Unlike the Volt, or any other electric car to be produced to date, the A1 e-tron concept utilizes a Wankel motor to produce the charge.
A Wankel engine is an internal combustion engine of diminutive proportions, using a rotary design to convert pressure into a rotating motion rather than using reciprocating pistons. The rotary in the Audi A1 e-tron tips the scales at just 154 lbs, and fits below the cargo floor.
In battery only mode, the A1 can go approximately 30 miles before the rotary motor is engaged to provide an additional 100 miles of range.
The performance of this luxury environmental car does not suffer; the Wankel and battery combo puts out sufficient power-hitting the 0-60 mark in about 10 seconds. Yes, most luxury cars we cover hit it 6 seconds sooner, but the new class of luxe-green machines make up for it in other ways-like being green and less dependent on fossil fuels. We believe future technology will continue to enhance these green machines, until there are a fleet of “Incredible Hulks” out there, free from fuel dependency and fast as hell.
More and more exotic car brands, and big brand names, are beginning to adopt environmentally friendly features and capacities into their design phases-putting out more luxury cars that can be considered “green”. Audi is officially onboard, and putting out impressive and futuristic technology like the A1 e-tron. For more on luxury green cars, follow link.
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