The Spanish invention that already interests in the industry

We have been doing decades Combustion engines more efficient, but always with the same basic principles. Now, a Spanish startup has a radically different idea: an engine designed from scratch for hybrids of the future. It is called E-Rex and has captured the attention of two giants: Renault and Geely.

And the tests will begin to see if the fiance “Spanish revolutionary engine” becomes the heart of the new electrified cars.

The e-rex. Juan Garrido Requena He is an engineer and co -founder of Innengine. In 2020, a video With a striking holder. “E-Rex: The real engine for extended range.” In it, he told us about his vision for the creation of a combustion engine that would revolutionize hybrid mobility.

Such an engine should be compact, light, that did not have vibrations or emit a remarkable noise and, in addition, that it was efficient. His e-rex He met these conditions and claimed that he was the first designed specifically for the cars of the future, since the hybrid motors then, and now, were modifications of traditional combustion motors.

Like a 2,000 cc of gasoline. The key of the e-rex is not only its size and weight of about 35 kilos, but the power. It is an engine of a time that, according to Garrido, is twice more powerful than one two -stroke and four times more powerful than one four -stroke. The consumption is low, also the emissions of CO₂ and NOX and is comparable in potential at a four times of 2,000 cc.

Its confrontated piston design and a variable compression relationship system is what makes it possible to adapt to different needs (power or efficiency) and what eliminates vibrations, since the strength of the pistons is compensated naturally.

Extended autonomy hybrids. This engine is not designed, apparently, to retire the current combustion engines, since Juan Garrido refers to its creation as what the future of something more concrete will define: extended range vehicles.

These are like a hybrid, but vice versa: instead of having a main combustion engine with the support of an electric motor, the electric motor is the main and the combustion is to feed a generator, which is the one that gives energy to the electric to move the wheels. In summary accounts: the combustion engine becomes the ‘pile’ of the electric motor, which also has a battery of which to ‘throw’. It is an electric in theory, but a hybrid in practice.

Horse enters the equation. These Extended range vehicles They were not the most popular hybrids five years ago. Nor are they now, but things can change because a giant has entered the room. Horse is one Joint Venturewhich becomes a company created by two or larger companies that join forces to achieve a common goal. Like the loss in combat NorthvoltOh.

In this case, those two large are Renault (45%), Geely (another 45%) and Aramco (the remaining 10%). Among the company’s objectives, is the development of new hybrid engines, batteries and other elements for that vehicle of the future. They have plants in various parts of the world, being Spain one of them and cradle of the engine of Renault Rafale E-Tech HybridFor example.

Above, a conventional engine. Below, the e-rex. They claim that it is 40% cheaper to manufacture without the need for new techniques or materials

Evidence. In that search to get new generation engines, Horse began this year to produce New 49 kW engines that are capable of feeding hybrid cars at speeds of 130 km/h, but the next steps point to the E-Rex’s e-rex. In a releaseboth companies have confirmed an agreement to prove two of the E-Rex prototypes.

These tests will be carried out in the Laboratory of the Department of Clean and Thermofluid Mobility of the Polytechnic University of Valencia and these results will be used to see if the Group licensed exclusively by the INNENFINE technology. If this occurs, the next step is to produce them in mass.

Revolution. Julien Faure is Horse’s director of Technology and has commented that “revolutionary technology and architecture could completely change the dynamics of combustion technology with implications for automotive, navy, aviation, drones and energy generation.” Faure ensures that these tests “potentially are of historical importance.”

For his part, Roberto Leandro, Executive Director of Innengine, says that collaboration is more than a milestone: “a bold step towards a more sustainable future.” It is clear that you have to be with an eye on this Spanish engine that, if it meets these tests, can be an important impulse for electrified cars while we are still waiting for solid state batteries.

Images | INNENGINE

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