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Developing Cars with a View to our Future Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of all automobile manufacturers to keep an eye on the future of both car-based societies and
energy issues when developing new vehicles. At Mazda, we are committed to thinking through 'Mazda Values' in this
arena too, and as a result, we have begun development work on hydrogen rotary engine vehicles. We are currently
testing these engines with a view to putting them to practical use.
Beginning public road testing of the hydrogen rotary engine vehicle
MAZDA RX-8
HYDROGEN RE
Main specifications of the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary Engine Vehicle,
approved by the Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2004
Base model
Base engine
Total length
Total width
Total height
Wheel base
Vehicle weight
No. seats
Fuels used
Mazda RX-8
13B Dual-fuel hydrogen rotary engine
4,435mm
1,770mm
1,325mm
2,700mm
1,440kg
4
Hydrogen and gasoline
Hydrogen is in the spotlight at the moment as a particularly
environment-friendly potential source of clean energy for the future.
Mazda developed the RX-8 Hydrogen RE by creating a fusion of its
existing hydrogen technology with the new-generation rotary engine
RENESIS, enabling the natural driving feel of an internal combustion
engine to be combined with excellent environmental performance. The
RX-8 Hydrogen RE was unveiled at the 37th Tokyo Motor Show in
October 2003, and 12 months later, the Vehicle was given approval by
the Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport to begin road tests,
and received a number plate. The RX-8 hydrogen rotary engine car
features a dual fuel system, which allows it to run on either gasoline
or hydrogen, and it is the first example in the world of a Vehicle
running on two fuels being allowed to undergo road testing.
The Hydrogen Rotary Engine emits no CO2 and almost no NOx,
making its environmental performance quite superb. In addition to
this, because it uses conventional engine parts and manufacturing
processes, it can be manufactured at low cost, and has high levels of
built-in reliability. Mazda is collecting data relating to the public-road
testing program, and analyzing the
car's performance, and is aiming to
have the RX-8 ready for leasing to
public offices and corporations
within two years, through
continuing development on the
internal combustion performance of
the engine, with the intention of
contributing to the creation of a
Mazda RENESIS hydrogen rotary engine
Corner seal
Hydrogen gas
Electronically-controlled
hydrogen gas injector
Side seal
Apex seal
Intake
Spark plug
Exhaust
Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE with its new license plate
Glossary: 1
Dual fuel system
Flipping a switch near the driver’s seat allows the
system to change from gasoline-driven to hydrogendriven
operations.
Social & Environmental Report 2005