Will be used for testing of and creating of safety regulations for Hydrogen infrastructure and other Hydrogen vehicles. This is the 7th one they have delivered now.


http://www.fuelcellsworks.com/Supppage7026.html


"HIROSHIMA, JAPAN--Mazda Motor Corporation today announced that it has delivered one dual-fueled RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicle, which runs on either gasoline or hydrogen, to the Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI)*1. The Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE has a rotary engine with a dual-fuel system that allows the driver to select either gasoline or hydrogen fuel with the flick of a switch.

JARI is working with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)*2 on the Establishment of Codes & Standards for a Hydrogen Economy Society project. The RX-8 Hydrogen RE will be used as part of its R&D activities to review the regulations regarding the safety of hydrogen vehicles, establish examination and evaluation techniques and create proposals for international standards. The hydrogen supply will mainly come from JARI's own hydrogen station at their facility in Tsukuba city."

 

love to see the specs

 

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
Hydrogen 100km...Gasoline 549km

*Standard lease price
(Price without tax indicated in brackets.) 420,000 yen US$3500.00
(400,000 yen US$3400.00) 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

 

So basically when you flick the switch to Hydrogen the cars power and torque output is about halved and the distance you can travel on a 110L Hydro Tank is around 100 KM or 60 Miles per Tank before a refill.