October 27, 2004


Mazda Hydrogen Rotary Now Street Legal

- Japanese ministry gives go-ahead for public road testing -



HIROSHIMA, October 27, 2004 – Today, Japan's transport authorities gave Mazda permission to road test a hydrogen-fueled, rotary-engine version of its RX-8 sports car. This unique vehicle features a dual-fuel system that allows the driver to select hydrogen or gasoline with the flick of a switch. In what could prove a historic event, this will be the world's first "street legal" dual-fuel hydrogen rotary.


Mazda RX-8 hydrogen rotary engine vehicle


Permission from Japan's Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) comes 12 months after Mazda unveiled a hydrogen/rotary concept version of the award-winning RX-8 at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. Mazda's near-term goal is to assess the practicality of this unique powertrain in everyday use. In the next-stage, expected within two years, test vehicles will be leased to governments and fleet users.

Known as H2RE, the test vehicle will deliver good performance with no loss of interior space for four people--the high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank is mounted in the vehicle's trunk. The H2RE is powered by a modified version of Mazda's award-winning RENESIS rotary engine that features an electronically controlled hydrogen gas direct injection system on the rotor housing.

RENESIS has proved ideal for burning hydrogen as the intake area of a rotary engine stays relatively cool in temperature, reducing the tendency for engine backfire--a significant challenge in conventional engines. The hydrogen/rotary combination likewise offers superior environmental performance--zero emission of CO2 and near zero NOx emissions. And because existing parts and production facilities are used, the innovative engine can be built reliably at a relatively low cost.

More importantly, the hydrogen/gasoline dual fuel system will enable the H2RE to travel beyond the range of the few hydrogen filling stations now available. Mazda will continue to develop this technology for practical use and work to support the development of a hydrogen-fueled society.

Major specifications of "Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary Engine Vehicle"
- Base model
Mazda RX-8

- Base engine
13B Dual Fuel Hydrogen Rotary Engine

- Length
4.435m

- Width
1.770m

- Height
1.325m

- Wheelbase
2.7m

- Weight
1,440kg

- Passenger capacity
Four adults

- Fuel
Hydrogen or Gasoline

- Fuel tank
Hydrogen: 74L / 35MPa high-pressure tank
Gasoline: 61L



History of Mazda's hydrogen vehicle development
1991
Developed 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 MX-5 test vehicle equipped with hydrogen rotary engine

1995
Conducted Japan's first public road test with Capella Cargo equipped with hydrogen rotary engine

1997
Developed Demio FC-EV

2001
Developed Premacy FC-EV, conducted first public road test in Japan. (Methanol Reforming)

2003
Announced RX-8 hydrogen rotary engine vehicle development

2004
Received MLIT approval for public road testing of the H2RE dual-fuel RX-8

 

Do you know if it will have the same amount of horsepower as the normal rx8?

 

I heard it was around 120HP with H....ouch, but very interesting idea and hopefully it can lead to some type of fuel improvement for the 8.

 

How about the torque?

Thanks.

 

I don't know anything else just whats written here. From the sounds of it, it can run on hydrogen or gasoline. Are all hydrogen cars capable of that or just this one? I find that pretty impressive.

 

just this one that i know of

 

I wouldn't mind 120hp if its hydrogen source was tap water. Unfortunately, H2 fuel might be just about as costly as 93 octane.

 

They needto stick the hydrogen RENESIS into a Mazda 3 or something. Ifthe car is onlygoing to make 120 hp surely they shouldnt stickthat engine into the sleek looking Rx8 body.

 

It's 120 only when it's using hydrogen.

 

http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/p.../hydrogen.html

 

The tank size, 61 L, is the same as the current RX-8's 16 gallon tank, so the real-world range of the car might be greatly extended. My guess is that the trunk space will be absolutely gone to accomodate the hydrogen tank. Gin is right: the fuel would have to be much less expensive for this to work, and I'd worry about a rear-end collision. I know that there's been a lot of discussion about hydrogen fuel being safe, but it's hard not to think about the result if it were to ignite in a closed space like a garage.... "Oh... the Humanity!"

 

The best evidence now indicates that this airship was destroyed by a spark igniting her highly-flammable aluminium-based paint; and that she would have been destroyed even if she had been lifted by helium rather than hydrogen.

Her destruction was directly caused by the decision of her Captain to go for a "high mooring", so that the Press could get better pictures.

Hydrogen was not to blame.

Thanks.

 

hydrogen certainly didnt help the hindenburg once it was on fire though. Regardless this seems like interesting news, but what about getting rear ended with a hydrogen tank in the back, seems a little unnerving to me.

 

Your concern is well taken. However, I believe it is now possible to store hydrogen safely via several methods. See the work of BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Incidentally, it is also now believed the most of the Hindenberg's hydrogen simply vented skyward.

Thanks.

 

Perth11 is right. An explosion from a hydrogen tank is much more controllable than a gas tank.

 

Hydro picks

 

there is another thread around here...

with 19 gallons of hydrogen, the range is extended by... 43.6 miles.

and you lose your trunk.

That's 2.2 miles per gallon of hydrogen, at 120 horsepower.

 

Might as well get another tank of petrol eh?

 

It's too early for us to form any opinion on this but I'd rather them do what Honda did and stick an EMS (Electric Motor Assit) in the RX8 and pump it's mpg by 9-10mpg.

The Honda V6 gets about 21/28 but with the EMS it gets 30/37 plus 15HP more, now that's what I'm talking about. In my opinion, that's the perfect family car hands down.

Who can’t love a V6 that makes 255HP and gets 30/37…that’s just GREAT!!!

Side Note: I heard that Mazda was thinking of making an electric Turbo/SC for the RX8…but I don’t think that would help mpg.

If Mazda ever stuck a EMS into the 8 they better keep the weight (so they would have to cut weight some place) at 3000 pounds. I can’t wait to see how the 8 matures as it puts on the years…

 

This, unlike the Honda, is a vehicle that may never be released to the public. It’s simply a technology in the development stage. The idea with hydrogen is that someday when petrol becomes to expensive to drill or becomes to important for its other uses (plastics production), we will have something to take its place. I do agree though, I wouldn't feel to good with a tank of liquid H2 riding in the trunk behind me. Sure, gasoline yields far more energy than a comparable amount of hydrogen in a combustion reaction, but gasoline is a liquid at room temperature. Hydrogen must be held under great pressures to keep it in the liquid state, this makes it very dangerous. Let a fire cracker blow up on your hand, your fine. Close your hand tightly around that same fire cracker and you wont be doing much with that hand ever again.

Imagine a hydrogen Corvair