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Mazda to Provide 30 RX-8 Hydrogen RE Vehicles to HyNor; Hydrogen RE Hybrid Tracking for 2008
24 October 2007
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| The hybrid drive for the Hydrogen RE Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
Mazda will provide 30 RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicles to Norway’s HyNor project (earlier post) starting in 2008. Mazda Chairman Hisakazu Imaki made the announcement at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The HyNor project is a unique Norwegian joint industry initiative, covering a route of 580 kilometers from Oslo to Stavanger, which aims to demonstrate the real life implementation of a hydrogen energy transport infrastructure. The signing ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 7, 2007 at the Norwegian embassy in Tokyo.
Mazda is highlighting the new Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid at the Tokyo show. (Earlier post.) The company is advancing the development of this vehicle and is hoping to commence commercial leasing during fiscal 2008, according to Imaki. The new rotary-engined hybrid doubles the hydrogen fuel range from 100 to around 200 kilometers (164 miles).
Output of the evolved power unit is increased by 40% compared with the RX-8 Hydrogen RE resulting in much better acceleration performance. The hydrogen rotary engine, the core unit of the model, is changed from a longitudinal to a transverse layout and its intake/exhaust resistance and combustion efficiency are improved to yield high output across a wide range of engine speeds.
In addition, Mazda developed a new concept hybrid system to match the new hydrogen rotary engine. The conventional hydrogen rotary engine has problems of low torque and poor combustion efficiency in the low rev range. The hybrid system uses the hydrogen engine to power a generator to produce electricity that powers a 110 kW peak electric motor. The system delivers quick response for driving performance allied with low fuel consumption.
| Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid Operating Modes | |
|---|---|
| Condition | Power source |
| Pulling away from stop | Battery power |
| Regular steady running | Hydrogen rotary engine and generator power |
| Acceleration | Hydrogen rotary engine/generator power + battery power |
| Deceleration | Regenerated by motor during braking and engine braking |
| Stationary | Hydrogen rotary engine stops idling unless the battery needs recharging. |
Acceleration kicks in the instant you hit the accelerator, creating a dynamic feeling from the synchronized engine and motor power.
The main components of hybrid system—the hydrogen rotary engine and generator, inverter, motor, and lithium-ion battery pack—are controlled to generate electricity, recharge and discharge the battery in accordance with driving conditions.
October 24, 2007 in Engines, Hybrids, Hydrogen | Permalink | Comments (29) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Posted by: doggydogworld | October 26, 2007 at 07:16 AM
Jack, 200km is actually 124 miles, so this concept car's gas-equivalent mileage is little over 40 MPG.
At 124 miles, it comes out to 46 MPGe (gasoline) and 50 MPGe (diesel).
And a lot of that gain is due to the hybrid system and, I presume, lightweight materials and so forth.
Hard to tell without the range data for gasoline mode. The prior version got 21 mpg.
It's not clear to me if the use of H2 in this vehicle is an improvement over gasoline or not, even on a tank-to-wheels basis.
Without data, hard to tell. But of course if the hydrogen were produced through electrolysis from solar or wind, the tank-to-wheels efficiency would be a moot question, as it would be a BEV juiced from solar or wind.
Posted by: jack | October 26, 2007 at 08:13 AM
<
GM Executive VP Bob Lutz has identified Lords town Ohio as the factory ...... to build the Chevy Volt>>
Recent union negotiations indicate the Volt will be built at the Hamtramck, MI plant. GM's first PHEV will probably be the Saturn Vue, which is built in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
Posted by: doggydogworld | October 26, 2007 at 08:38 AM
That's cool, I didn't know that about the Vue. I'd buy a PHEV Saturn Sky, but I'm definitely a minority on that one.
...It's a doggydog world.....
Posted by: Elliot | October 29, 2007 at 07:01 PM
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Jack, 200km is actually 124 miles, so this concept car's gas-equivalent mileage is little over 40 MPG. And a lot of that gain is due to the hybrid system and, I presume, lightweight materials and so forth. It's not clear to me if the use of H2 in this vehicle is an improvement over gasoline or not, even on a tank-to-wheels basis.