First Rotary Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Delivered

Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd version

Features hydrogen or gasoline dual-fuel system

March 23, 2006 7:52 PM
Filed Under: Japanese, Mazda

Press Release

Features hydrogen or gasoline dual-fuel system

Mazda Motor Corporation has delivered one RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicle each to its first two corporate customers for this model, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, and Iwatani International Corporation in Osaka, Japan. RX-8 Hydrogen RE cars are equipped with a rotary?engine and feature a dual-fuel system that allows the driver to select either hydrogen or gasoline with the flick of a switch. The vehicles that have been leased to Mazda’s first two corporate fleet customers are based on Mazda’s original body design but with specially added company decals for each customer’s use. The delivery of these vehicles for fleet use marks the world’s first case of leasing an internal combustion engine vehicle that can use both hydrogen and gasoline as fuel.

Akihiro Kashiwagi, RX-8 Hydrogen RE development program manager, said, "We’re pleased to deliver these hydrogen rotary vehicles for fleet use in these two companies, which are participating in the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC) and are actively engaged in advancing further uses of hydrogen energy. And we are looking forward to hearing feedback from our customers about the cars. Mazda will continue its efforts to improve the performance of hydrogen-fueled rotary engine vehicles and do its part to help achieve a more environmentally friendly hydrogen energy society in the future.”

Specifications and lease price of Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE

Vehicle

Type

Mazda ABA-SE3P 'Kai' (modified model)

Overall length/width/height

4.435mm / 1.770mm / 1.340mm

Wheelbase

2,700mm

Curb weight

1,460kg

Seating capacity

4 adults

Engine

Class

RENESIS hydrogen rotary engine

(Dual fuel system)

Type

13B

Displacement

0.654L x 2

Maximum output

Hydrogen 80kW (109PS)
Gasoline? 154kW (210PS)

Maximum torque

Hydrogen? 140Nm (14.3kgm)
Gasoline? 222Nm (22.6kgm)

Fuel

Type

Hydrogen/gasoline switch

Fuel tank

Hydrogen 110L/35MPa ?350 bar? high pressure hydrogen tank
Gasoline 61L

Performance

Cruising distance
(10-15 mode)

Hydrogen 100km
Gasoline? 549km

*Standard lease price
(Price without tax indicated in brackets.)

420,000 yen (400,000 yen) per month

*Monthly lease payment for the 30-month lease period.

Mazda's hydrogen vehicle development milestones

1991

Developed the first hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, HR-X

1992

Test drive of golf cart equipped with fuel cell

1993

Developed second hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, HR-X2

Developed test version of MX-5 equipped with hydrogen rotary engine

1995

Conducted Japan's first public road test with Capella Cargo equipped with hydrogen rotary engine

1997

Developed Demio (Mazda2) FC-EV

2001

Developed Premacy FC-EV and conducted first public road test in Japan (with methanol reformer fuel cell system)

2003

Announced Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary Engine vehicle development model

2004

Conducted the world's first public road tests of the RX-8 hydrogen rotary engine that can run on two types of fuel--hydrogen and gasoline


Source: Text & Photos courtesy Mazda Motor Corporation
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