Mazda announced today the Japanese government allowed the manufacturer to start testing its Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid minivan on public roads. The automaker hopes to complete the tests and offer the Mazda5-based hybrid as a commercial lease in the 2008 fiscal year. On hydrogen, the rotary-powered hybrid has a fuel range of 125 miles, while power is increased by 40 percent, now at 147 horsepower.
The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid uses a dual-fuel system, which allows drivers to switch between hydrogen or gasoline power at the push of a button. Mazda claims this is the first hydrogen hybrid that allows such flexibility. The electric motor, meanwhile, gets power from lithium ion batteries, and the advanced powertrain was taken directly from the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, which was the first commercially available hydrogen hybrid when it debuted in 2006.
Both hybrids will be demonstrated at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in Japan next month. By approving the public road tests, Japan’s Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport marked another milestone in Mazda’s long-standing history of hybrid development, dating back to 1991.
To further cement its green image, Mazda will use its Biotechmaterials for interior trim and seating surfaces.
“We are committed to improving the performance of our hydrogen rotary engine vehicles to help promote a more eco-friendly place for the automobile in society,” said Akihiro Kashiwagi, Mazda’s program manager in charge of hydrogen RE development.
06/20, 9:27 AM
posted by:
kitko
Go Mazda
06/20, 9:42 AM
posted by:
xyunya
Why? what is the value of a car that can go all 125 mi before the need to be re-fueled? Mazda’s rotor does not have stellar reputation for reliability now combined with hydrogen and lithium ion batteries it makes XXIst century harakiri device.
06/20, 9:55 AM
posted by:
SigmaHyperion
What’s the difference between a car that can go 125miles before needing to be refueled with hydrogen and one that can only go 40 miles before needing to be plugged back in again (i.e. any plug-in hybrid we’ll see for the forseeable future)? 125 miles isn’t overly restrictive. The average commute in the US is just under 15 miles. With a range of 125 miles that’s just about enough to get you back and forth to work for an entire week without needing to go refuel.
Both aren’t limited to JUST that range (125mi or 40mi respectively) that’s just the range on their alternative fuel. Both are capable of running on gasoline after expending their alternate fuel.
As for the rotary — rotaries are inherently FAR better at burning hydrogen than piston engines because the intake and combustion chambers are seperate. And they can burn hydrogen with no virtually no modifications whatsoever.
06/20, 10:01 AM
posted by:
paulee
you go sigma!!!
06/20, 10:11 AM
posted by:
xyunya
Any gasoline fuel injected engine requires very little mods to burn hydrogen. There is no data given on actual mileage of this setup: all we know it needs mo gas after 125 mi. Rotor is not all that fuel efficient.
06/20, 11:16 AM
posted by:
SigmaHyperion
If you’re only going to rely on the gasoline when the hydrogen runs out, how particularly fuel-efficient the rotary may be on gasoline isn’t of particular importance. It’s a backup fuel. If the mileage while on gasoline is a problem, keep it fueled with Hydrogen and you’ll be fine. If keeping Hydrogen in it every 100 miles or so is a problem, then maybe you shouldn’t buy a Hydrogen-powered car.
06/20, 9:27 PM
posted by:
kitko
SigmaHyperion is right. Commute only or people’s transport around Hisorshima – the car’s ideal. Add a network of Mazda’s network of Hydrogen filling stations (it’s not that they litter Hiroshima like gas-stations), but they are available.
If I remember correctly, there actually is a Hydrogen-only version of RX-8 with power output rather similar to the petrol-only version.
As for reliability – keep the engine happy and it will last as much as any other petrol engine.