Mazda Hydrogen Rotary Engine Vehicle Now Street-Legal

Mazda Motor Corp. has developed a hydrogen rotary engine powered vehicle, and road tests were commenced on October 27, 2004 - first in the world for this kind of vehicle, which can also run on gasoline when necessary.

The hydrogen rotary engine features a dual fuel system that allows drivers to select hydrogen or gasoline at the flick of a switch. The system incorporates a 61-liter gasoline tank and a 74-liter, high-pressure (35MPa) hydrogen tank, so drivers need not worry about running out of fuel in areas where hydrogen filling stations have yet to be constructed. The body of the vehicle is based on the Mazda RX-8.

The road tests will provide Mazda with data for assessing the practicality of the vehicle, which it aims to start leasing to government agencies, municipalities and private companies within two years.

The hydrogen rotary engine exhibits superior environmental performance with zero carbon dioxide emissions and close to zero nitrogen oxide emissions while using hydrogen fuel. Also, because the vehicle can be produced using existing parts and production facilities, it can be put into practical use at low cost and with a high level of reliability. Mazda hopes to contribute to the realization of a hydrogen-powered society by developing this technology as a possible step toward the practical use of the hydrogen engine as a clean internal combustion engine.

http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2004/200410/1027e.html

Posted: 2005/02/11 01:39:36 PM
Japanese version