Reminds me of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_Wankel_engine
Good think this seems to be efficient, but I would like that instead they would be putting more focus on improving batteries rather than gas motors.
Yeah, not like multi-billion dollar corporations can R&D into multiple areas at the same time.
Wankel engines are great in some ways - but the seals are really difficult to get reliable.
until you get most of your grid power from solar your still using fossil fuels for power.
About 30% of US electricity is produced from nuclear power or non-solar renewable sources. Solar may be a hot topic, but it's nowhere near being the top alternative to fossil fuels.
US =/= world. Solar is growing far far far quicker than nuclear.
Sure - but the grid + ev combo is still more efficient than a gas vehicle. And of course the grid uses a wide range of fossil fuels which reduces some of the geopolitical concerns. Finally in some places your power is already quite low on hydrocarbons - Seattle City Light is only 1.3% hydrocarbon.
95% of my grid power comes from hydro or nuclear, so I'm good.
Small engines are irrelevant to grid power regardless, even if you get all of your electricity from fossil fuels. Power plant generators are completely different beasts, as the tradeoffs change considerably as you scale up.