English 
Spanish 
3 min read
5 comments
Spanish company develops revolutionary engine that promises to turn the tide against electric cars. Called the INNengine e-Rex, the model is the first 1-stroke engine.
A IN Engine, a Spanish company that introduced a revolutionary combustion engine in 2019, announced it as the first “1-stroke” engine. Called IN Engine e-Rex, this revolutionary engine still has pistons and cylinders, however, it features a different configuration and several innovations, promising to turn the game around against the eletric cars.
Understand how the revolutionary engine of IN Engine
The INNengine e-Rex is much more compact and lighter than the piston and cylinder engines currently on the market. Because of this, it promises not only higher levels of efficiency, but also greater performance.
This revolutionary engine, whichpromises to put an end to electric cars, was first presented in 2020. The prototype had 500 cm³, four cylinders and eight pistons, something quite unusual. This is only possible because the INNengine e-Rex is an opposed-piston engine and not an opposed-cylinder engine like those of Porsche or Subaru, where two pistons are on opposite sides of the same cylinder and move against each other.
- Toyota unveils Urban Cruiser EV, a new compact electric SUV that promises to transform urban mobility and mark a new era in the automotive industry
- State shocks drivers by seizing electric motorcycles, saying they put people in danger
- Fiat launches the Pálio pickup truck with 14 km/l, promising to win over Brazilians and end the reign of the Onix!
- Follow the leader: Volkswagen Polo conquers the throne of best-selling cars in Brazil in 2024 for the second consecutive year
Opposed piston engines are not an absolute novelty, they were invented in 1882, however, the revolutionary engine from the Spanish company differs from these by doing without the traditional crankshaft. In fact, of the two crankshafts that are necessary in this type of engine.
The developer replaced them with a type of discs, one at each end of the engine, with a wavy surface, which control the movement of the pistons. The solution makes it possible to not only say goodbye to crankshafts, but also to connecting rods and associated gears. This important reduction in the number of components made it possible to reduce the volume and mass of the engine, which increases efficiency.
1-stroke engine is 'almost the same' as a two-stroke
Os combustion engines of current cars are all four-stroke, including intake, combustion, compression and exhaust. And this translates into two crankshaft revolutions for each combustion cycle.
Two-stroke engines complete one combustion cycle for each revolution of the crankshaft. As a curiosity, the Two-stroke diesel engines are currently among the most efficient combustion engines, with values that already exceed 50% in efficiency. It is currently possible to find them in the giants of the seas.
The operation of INNengine's revolutionary 1-stroke engine, which promises to put an end to electric cars, It is completely identical to the two-stroke, however, due to its configuration, it achieves a complete combustion cycle for every half revolution of the crankshaft, or two combustion cycles for each revolution. In this way, the company gave it the name “1 tempo”.
Company installs engine in Mazda MX-5 NB
In 2021, INNengine installed a prototype engine in a Mazda MX-5NB and the numbers recorded are incredible.
With just 500 cm³ and 38 kg, the revolutionary engine delivered 120 horsepower, making 6 thousand RPM and has a torque of around 150 Nm. And without the aid of any type of supercharging. These are numbers that would not clash with a four-cylinder with 1500 cm³. The only doubt that remains is about its efficiency and fuel consumption.
The only data provided by the company in relation to the INNengine e-rex, which promises to put an end to electric cars, is linked to the specific fuel consumption at engine braking, which is the rate that measures the conversion of fuel into work at around 195 g/kW.
Giving some context, although it is a gasoline engine, the model presents a specific consumption comparable to the best diesel engines, which points to a thermal efficiency comfortably above 40%.
To end electric vehicles, only hydrogen combustion vehicles will be needed. Whoever has this technology will be a game changer in the automobile market.
They could sell hydrogen reactors along with natural gas vehicles. It's not that expensive. A hydrogen reactor for people to produce gas at home from water by extracting hydrogen from it. They don't think so.
It is not even remotely a threat to electric vehicles wanting to reinvent the wheel, water, nitrogen, electric vehicles yes, easy fuels no, please take care of the planet
Electric cars won't solve anything environmentally.