Toyota's dominance in hybrid technology has other OEM's straining to leapfrog on to The Next Big Thing. While GM tries to beat ToMoCo to the PHEV punch, Mazda decided to combine three imperfect technologies into one over-the-top rolling lab. By modifying a Wankel rotary engine to run on hydrogen, and then adding a hybrid system, Mazda's Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid wins the prize for the most complicated possible approach to high-efficiency motoring. But let's not condemn this franken-hybrid to the scrap heap of engineering excess just yet. Wards Auto has learned that the Japanese Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport has given the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid permission to undergo testing on Japanese roads. Of the three systems, hybrid technology is clearly the most promising. But Mazda's blind technophilia has mated it to an immature fuel source and an inherently inefficient ICE. Who cares that it gets 124 miles from a tank of hydrogen and boosts power 40 percent over a "standard" hydrogen Wankel. Mazda plans on leasing these people-movers in Japan later this year. Here's hoping that the lease comes with an uncompromising warranty.
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From what I have read, the rotary engine is better suited to run on hydrogen than the conventional cylinder engine. The details escape me but the chambered rotary design helps prevent backfiring.
The Wankel is THE simplest ICE on the planet. So all this article is skewed. Fact is that there have been hydrogen Rotaries for over a decade in University test and studies. Hell, even backyard geniuses have them for fun.
Since it’s most like the most prevelent element other than carbon, it makes perfect sense to use this engine. However inefficient in gasoline form, it does have merit in hydrogen form.
Go Mazda!
I read somewhere that Mazda is supposed to build at least ten of these, making the FCX Clarity and fuel cell Equinox look like mass produced vehicles.
Why the Mazda5 though? I’d take one provided a) I could fuel it, and b) the system would fit inside my Mazda3 hatch.
Probably because the Mazda5’s JDM name is better suited to the task. Or, more space for improvised computers, hydrogen tanks, etc. that have just been shoehorned in there.
I hope hydrogen works out. It’s our best long-term hope for the survival of the internal combustion engine if evidence ends up supporting anthropogenic global warming. If we end up going all-electric, it’ll be the end of shifting gears…
Apparently Suzuki will road-test a fuel-cell vehicle (based on the SX4) in Japan.
At least they are not trying to make a 6000lb SUV into a hybrid grocery getter. maybe GM should start with small cars for hybrid experimental transmissions.
@orenwolf: the H2 tank replaces the 3rd row, doubt it will fit in your Mz3
yeah check here for a pic I took of how large the tank is.. thing is, it has two fuel doors, a “gasoline” one and a “hydrogen” one.
http://flickr.com/photos/clauretano/2205093733/in/set-72157603758563875/
a handful of other pics of the car there as well.
Hey GS650!
According to the many PRESS RELEASES about the transmission design being used in many transit buses for quite a few years.
So Gm/Allison actully started with really HUGE vehicles and downsized the project for the Tahoe.
Knowledge is dangerous…
gawdodirt:
Knowledge is dangerous…
And a little knowledge is VERY dangerous.
I once owned two RX-7’s, and I love the rotary!