Internal combustion battery…sort of

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Sci Fi Engineer

The center section is essentially 2 combustion chambers back to back, the orange wrap is the ‘stator’ of an electric generator. When the magnets tied to the piston runs through the stator it generates electricity. Then a spring returns the stator to the center and the cycle (2 cycle) starts again.
Green Car Report :Could Free Piston Range Extenders Broaden the Electric Truck Horizon?

One of the ‘cool’ things about a Free Piston Engine is that it can be packaged in a fairly simple block and because of the elimination of the mechanical drive train and residual mechanical controls (valves, cams, etc) the machine can eat different types of fuel and be tuned in a wide variety of ways quite simply. This makes it compatible with battery electric systems on a packaging and mission program ability standpoint.

A simple schematic of the bare bones of a free piston machine. Other uses have been proposed but tying it to a generator and modern power electronics to make it a range extender is pretty interesting. The technology is derivative of the highly refined IC engines of today and the equally long history of electric generators so this should be something that matures pretty quickly.

Too quiet to be a race car

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Sci Fi Engineer

Do we really go to the races for the visceral shiver a race car’s engine can give you, the aching memory frisson that the stink of castrol can trigger?

Formula One dominator Sebastian Vettel gave short shrift Saturday to the new, electric Formula E series, saying it would be far too quiet and was “not the future”.

WIRED: ?cute? eBimmer with a dimmer

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Sci Fi Engineer

The i3 is BMW’s Ultimate Electric Driving Machine: BY DAMON LAVRINC 07.29.13
Wired question the “new age refrigerator” look but I like it.
Continues the trend showing that you need to design from the ground up…and know what you are doing…and what you want to emphasize when designing eCars.