Mazda Rotary Motor Finds Second Life As Range Extender

While the rotary engine once set Mazda apart from automakers, these days the design just isn’t fuel efficient enough to meet today’s rigid fuel economy standards. But the idea of using a small rotary engine as a range-extender for a plug-in hybrid is being bandied about by Mazda, and the results are something worth writing home about.

Rotary engines are compact and simple compared to standard internal combustion engines, and lightweight to boot. So even in a small car like the Mazda2, a 0.3 liter rotary engine hardly takes up any space at all. An eletric motor is good for about 100 horsepower and 200 ft-lbs of torque, and the battery bank is good for about 125 miles of driving range on Japan’s admittedly-generous testing scale. The 330cc rotary engine doubles the driving range, and ensures you’re never without the ability to add range in a short time.

The gas tank holds only about 2.6 gallons of fuel, or 10 liters, which works out to be about 45 or so miles per gallon for the rotary engine. That is quite efficient, and this electrified Mazda2 reminds me a whole lot of the BMW i3 with a range extender, but almost assuredly much cheaper. While the rotary never directly drives the vehicle, it may be the best use of rotary technology in the 21st century.

For now the Mazda2 plug-in is mostly just a test vehicle, with a limited top speed of just 75 mph, with the 0 to 60 mph time somewhere in the 12 second range.  There are other Mazda3 alt-fuel vehicles, including a regular hybrid, in the works as well though Mazda still seems to be betting on diesels in the long run

. This car isn’t going to light the world on fire, but it could give rotary engines another life as range extenders for the quirky Japanese brand. Rotary fans can rejoice…sorta.

Source: AOL.uk

Japanese-market Mazda3 Gets CNG, Diesel, And Hybrid Options

Though Mazda has been slow to embrace any one alternative fuel technology, the small Japanese automaker has just rolled out three new green cars at the Tokyo Motor Show that embrace a diverse array of different fuel-saving, emissions-scrubbing technologies.

The Mazda3 SkyActiv-CNG utilizes both gasoline and compressed natural gas in its high-compression 2.0 liter, four-cylinder enigine, giving drivers a choice that utilizes a cheaper fuel. Alas, for now the Mazda3 CNG is a Japanese-market vehicle only, though the big push for CNG vehicles in America is far from over, and this vehicle could yet make it to our shores.

More interesting, and likely to come to America though is the Mazda3 SkyActiv-HYBRID, which also uses a high-compression 2.0 liter engine (14:1!) and an 84 horsepower electric motor connected to a new CVT transmission. The motor never directly drives the Mazda3, but rather assists the gas motor in low speed and low load situations, and power comes from a nickel-hydride battery like those found in the Toyota Prius. This system will supplement the Mazda6 with the iEloop mild-hybrid system, giving customers a choice.

Under the Japanese testing standard, the Mazda3 will supposedly return 72.3 mpg, though under the same standard the 50 mpg Toyota Prius is rated at 89.4 mpg. Under American standards, the Mazda3 Hybrid should be good for at least 45 mpg on the highway, making it competitive, though not quite a Kingslayer.

Mazda also announced that its 2.2 liter SkyActiv-D diesel engine would see double duty in the Japanese-market CX-5 and Mazda3. America is already getting the Mazda6 with the SkyActiv-D engine, though it won’t hit our shores until 2014. Now imagine a diesel-powered hatchback with 310 ft-lbs of torque and hybrid-beating fuel economy. More than anything, that’s the car Mazda needs to bring to America.

Source: Mazda

Mazda showcases CNG and hybrid Axela models in Tokyo; Mazda’s approach to environmental performance

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda is showcasing the recently-released Mazda Axela (known as Mazda3 overseas) with a variety of engine types at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, including a CNG concept and hybrid variants.

The Axela accounts for more than 30% of global sales; the latest Axela is the third generation. The new Axela range also introduces a hybrid vehicle, and marks the first time for a single model launched on the Japanese market to include gasoline, diesel, and hybrid power plants in its powertrain lineup.

In terms of its overall approach to environmental performance, Mazda is pursuing CO₂ reduction by globally deploying its SKYACTIV technology that re-engineers all of the vehicle’s base technologies from scratch. Mazda is reducing vehicle weight, as well as gradually introducing electric devices including battery management (idling stop), brake energy regeneration, and motor drive technologies.

In addition to the challenges posed by CO₂ reduction, Mazda believes that a “multi-solution” approach supporting energy diversity is another key factor in realizing a sustainable future.

Even in 2020, Mazda expects that the world’s key energy sources will continue to be mainly petroleum based and that the majority of vehicles will still be powered by internal combustion engines. With this in mind, Mazda is working on the comprehensive improvement of base technologies using SKYACTIV drive and promoting its Building-Block Strategy in order to meet the company’s stated goal for 2015 of raising the average fuel economy of Mazda vehicles sold worldwide by 30% compared with 2008 levels. Click to enlarge.

Alternative fuels: CNG and E85. Using SKYACTIV-G as a base, Mazda is pursuing the practical use of both a CNG engine and a bioethanol engine that supports E85, the 85% ethanol blend. In this way, in addition to gasoline, diesel or electricity (hybrids), Mazda is providing a “multi-solution” that allows customers to choose a power unit and energy source appropriate to where they live. Mazda says that its ultimate goal is to preserve driving pleasure unchanged, no matter what fuel is used, as well as excellent environmental performance.

The Mazda3 SKYACTIV-CNG Concept unveiled at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show has dedicated features including a gasoline/CNG dual fuel engine based on the SKYACTIV-G 2.0 and a CNG tank.

Major technologies on Mazda3 SKYACTIV-CNG concept. Click to enlarge.

SKYACTIV-HYBRID, the Mazda hybrid system. Mazda introduced its hybrid system, SKYACTIV-HYBRID, to the Japanese-specification production model. The SKYACTIV-HYBRID-dedicated 2.0-liter gasoline engine adopts cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) that recirculates a portion of exhaust gas to the intake side, helping to realize a 14.0:1 compression ratio.

Mazda hybrid system. Click to enlarge.

Recovering thermal energy from exhaust gas shortens engine warm-up time, increasing the opportunities for engine stopping, and thereby improving fuel economy.

The transaxle splits motive power from the engine into drive power and power to the generator, and transfers a combination of motor power and engine power to the drive wheels.

The power control unit steps up/steps down power from the high-voltage battery and supplies it to the motor, the auxiliary equipment, and the auxiliary battery. In addition, it manages electrical power to optimize supply to the motor and high-voltage battery. Furthermore, the unit performs generator control to adjust engine load.

A high-voltage nickel-metal hydride battery is adopted that is specifically developed for automotive use, having a simple structure and superior stability. Current, voltage, temperature and other measures are computer monitored and controlled to constantly maintain optimum status, helping enhance durability.

In addition, the engine incorporates control systems that enable more efficient combustion of fuel over a wider range of driving. The engine adopts a 4-1 exhaust system.

i-ACTIVSENSE and Connect. The new Axela is equipped with the full suite of i-ACTIVSENSE, Mazda’s advanced safety technologies. In addition, the new Axela marks the debut of Mazda Connect, a car connectivity system.

ACTIVSENSE technologies include:

• Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW). The system detects a vehicle travelling ahead and helps the driver avoid collisions by sounding an alarm when there is a risk of collision.
• Rear Vehicle Monitoring (RVM). The system detects vehicles approaching on either side from the rear and alerts the driver to potential risks when changing lanes.
• Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS). The system controls the direction of headlights according to vehicle speed and steering inputs, enabling the driver to see further around curves at night.
• High-Beam Control System (HBC). The system detects oncoming vehicles or vehicles ahead and automatically switches the headlights between high and low beams for safer nighttime driving.
• Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS). The system detects lane markings on the road surface and warns the driver of imminent unintentional lane departures.
• Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC). The system judges the relative speed and distance to the car ahead, and works within a set speed range to maintain a safe following distance, thus alleviating some of the burden on the driver when driving on highways.
• Smart City Brake Support (SCBS). If the system detects a risk of collision with a vehicle travelling ahead at speeds between approximately 4‒30km/h, it automatically applies the brakes and reduces engine output with the aim of avoiding the collision or reducing the severity of impact.
• Acceleration Control for Automatic Transmission (Japanese-specification models only). The system comes into effect if the driver presses the accelerator pedal more than a prescribed amount when an obstacle is detected in front. It suppresses sudden acceleration by curbing engine output while alerting the driver with an alarm and a warning light on the meter display.
• Smart Brake Support (SBS). This helps the driver avoid or reduce the severity of collisions, particularly when driving at speeds above 15km/h, by automatically applying the brakes if there is a danger of collision.

Source: Green Car Congress