Death of the Carburettor – Karting’s Fuel-Injected Future!
By Karting1 ~ February 20th, 2012. Filed under: Kart Racing News.
Less emissions, more efficiency and more power from 2-strokes? “You must be mad” I hear you say. Well I probably am, but that’s besides the point. Karting possibly faces its biggest revolution since Rotax announced the MAX FR125 back in 1997. It’s all about engine management with the emphasis on ‘fuel injection’ instead of the traditional use of carburettors.
There’s nothing new about ‘fuel-injection Vs carburettors’ of course, but its development within the 2-stroke scene has got everyone excited. Once suspected as a rumour emanating from false hope, the idea that a major manufacturer like Rotax was developing a fuel-injected kart engine could actually be a reality.
Fuel injected 2-stroke from Athena – a glimpse into the future of karting
The first major announcement for a system for karting comes from Athena. The Italian engineering firm has recently teamed up with Jan Witteveen to develop a fuel injection system that could be fitted to 2-stroke engines. Witteveen is a world famous 2-stroke engine tuner whose experience comes from the world of MotoGP.
In 2008 he was hired by Maxter to work on their range of engines. He revealed then that he had some ideas that would benefit karting in general “I have a few ideas, but I’d like to keep it to myself for the time being, because they are part of the new Maxter strategy. I still need a bit more time to work things out, then we’ll start working not only for the good of Maxter but for karting in general”. What he meant then was unknown but he may have been referring to the Athena fuel injection system – a system which could be set to revolutionize karting.
Coming to karting soon? Athena says so
Athena have confirmed to Karting1 that they have tested the unit with karting manufacturers and have promised it will hit the track very soon. Athena state they got 50% less fuel consumption, 50% less emissions, and more importantly more power from a 2-stroke engine with this technology. This is big news as there are only a few 2-stroke kart engine manufactures that could have tested this unit.
Of course Athena are not alone with regard to fuel-injection for 2-stroke engines. KTM have been developing such a system for a number of years now and interestingly have announced a technical partnership with Athena. TM have also got a working system ready but haven’t yet considered it for sale.
The most famous and successful use of 2-stroke fuel injection engine management has come from Rotax themselves with their awarding winning Enviride E-TEC system. It has been a huge success in the ski-doo/outboard engine market. They say “Evinrude E-TEC is the best of both technologies. It provides the quiet, efficiency and cleanliness many customers associate with the 4-stroke outboards, combined with the torque, throttle response, quick acceleration and raw power associated with the 2-stroke outboard. The technology is considered 2-Stroke, Direct Injection. Evinrude E-TEC in fact, has cleaner exhaust emissions than a 4-stroke, it produces 5 to 10 times less Carbon Monoxide (CO) while idling or trolling.”
E-TEC technology on a kart engine would be incredible
Rotax’s recent customer survey hinted at this very development for karting, and there is no reason to rule out a collaboration with their Austrian neighbours KTM. Rotax sell roughly 5000 FR125 units a year and relative to their whole business it represents 1.7% of annual engine sales.
KTM sells approximately 12,000 2-stroke bikes a year and a successful entry into karting would be a more worthwhile venture for them. They may have already invested the cash for R&D and a fuel injected 2-stoke ‘Rotax branded’ engine would give KTM a lucrative avenue into karting. Both brands would be winners.
Of course the main concern for karters is the development of engine management systems. The gains are obvious – an engine can run at its optimum 100% of the time rather than the black art of carburation. The worry is engine maps, which could lead to excessive complication. The challenge for any manufacturer would be to make the development of engine maps manageable for the average racer.
It’s quite easy to under-estimate the impact fuel injection engine management systems could have in karting. A company like Rotax could blow everyone away with a new fuel-injected product with gains in almost every area.
If the promised gains in power, efficiency, as well as emission are true then we are set for a brand new era of karting and it will mean the predicted move to 4-stroke may never happen. It would almost guarantee 2-stroke karting for another decade or two before the inevitable on-set of electric/hydrogen power plants.
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