Obrist invents "champagne engine"
As the 45 kW OBRIST engine, which weighs just 110 kilograms, is only used to charge the car’s backup battery when required and, if necessary, to supply the air conditioning system with power, it does not need to rev up like a conventional car engine, but always runs in the optimum speed range, if at all. The design principle of the engine is deliberately simple: technically, it is a naturally aspirated engine with multi-channel injection and a displacement of one liter. There is no variable valve control, which is standard for drive engines.
Profile: OBRIST GROUP
The Obrist Group, founded by inventor and entrepreneur Frank Obrist, focuses on innovations for global, sustainable and CO2-reducing energy concepts. The spectrum ranges from the global supply of renewable energies and atmospheric fuels (aFuels) to innovative CO2-negative (i.e. climate-positive!) drive concepts for the automotive industry. With over 250 patents, the Obrist Group is one of the world’s most important innovators in the field of sustainable energy concepts.
Is there a future for e-fuels?
According to the development company, the HyperHybrid concept has good prospects of being used in Europe, provided that the ban on the registration of vehicles with combustion engines planned for 2035 includes an exception for cars that run on e-fuels. In Germany, the proportion of people interested in e-cars has fallen from 34% to 29% in the last two years, according to a recent survey by McKinsey. According to the survey, almost a quarter of all e-car drivers regret switching to electromobility. One critical factor is apparently the e-infrastructure: only seven percent consider the existing charging network to be sufficient – an obstacle that would no longer play a role with the HyperHybrid. Irrespective of this, the Obrist concept remains interesting for the rest of the world: only a good fifth of all vehicles around the globe drive on European roads.
Smooth running - HYPERHYBRID® POWERTRAIN
The engine was developed for a forced hyper-hybrid concept. And Obrist reveals the magic trick at the top: The “mini engine” is not part of the drivetrain, so it doesn’t even have the opportunity to couple its power with another system. The small one-liter engine therefore does not have to rev up at all, but always works in optimum speed ranges, if it has to at all.
As big as a shoebox
The two crankshafts work in opposite directions, eliminating any vibration. A rubber-damped gearbox on the second crankshaft minimizes the noise generated by the transmission. An integrated flywheel compensates for all inertia of the rotating parts, including external forces outside the engine, including the oil system with the oil pump. As a result, and thanks to complete encapsulation in a soundproofing box about the size of a shoe box, the engine is virtually silent and vibration-free.
According to CEO Frank Obrist, this should solve the problem of range, as the champagne engine only consumes 1.5 liters (petrol or e-fuels) per 100 km. This should enable a range of over 1,000 kilometers. The team has been working on the HyperHybrid concept since 2011. The 110-kilogram naturally aspirated engine with multi-channel injection delivers 45 kW, or just under 61 hp. There is no variable valve control, as is usual with four-stroke engines.
Technical data: OBRIST motor
As the 45 kW “champagne motor” is only used to charge the car’s buffer battery when required and, if necessary, to supply the air conditioning system with power, it does not need to rev up like a conventional car engine
The “mini engine” is not part of the drivetrain and therefore does not have the opportunity to couple its power with another system. The small one-liter engine therefore does not have to rev up at all, but always works in optimum speed ranges, if it has to at all.
The OBRIST engine consumes only 1.5 liters (petrol or e-fuels) per 100 km. This should enable a range of over 1,000 kilometers.
The two crankshafts work in opposite directions, eliminating any vibration. A rubber-damped gearbox on the second crankshaft minimizes the noise generated by the transmission. An integrated flywheel compensates for all inertia of the rotating parts, including external forces outside the engine, including the oil system with the oil pump. As a result, and thanks to complete encapsulation in a soundproofing box about the size of a shoe box, the engine is virtually silent and vibration-free.
The OBRIST team has been working on the HyperHybrid concept since 2011. The 110-kilogram naturally aspirated engine with multi-channel injection delivers 45 kW, or just under 61 hp.