Ford / Mazda and hydrogen cars
»MAZDA PREMACY HYDROGEN RE HYBRID OKYO, JAPAN, Oct. 24, 2007
~ thanks to its combination of Mazda’s trademark Zoom-Zoom performance and excellent environmental efficiency,
~ the hydrogen rotary engine (Hydrogen RE) is one of the leading lights in Mazda's efforts to develop the power plant of the future
~ to demonstrate the exceptional environmental performance of this engine that burns hydrogen to generate motive power and emits zero CO2,
~ Mazda has been leasing the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE to corporations and local government bodies since 2006
~ the RX-8 Hydrogen RE not only offers clean performance,
~ it also maintains a driving feel characteristic of a vehicle powered by a conventional gasoline internal combustion engine
~ with its dual-fuel system, the RX-8 Hydrogen RE can be switched between hydrogen and gasoline fuel at the touch of a button,
~ and although it is an alternative fuel vehicle,
~ it offers all the other acclaimed attributes of the base model RX-8, including its seating capacity for four adults
~ the new Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid that Mazda is exhibiting at this year's Tokyo Motor Show is currently under development,
~ and scheduled to commence leasing in 2008
~ incorporating the dual-fuel system of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE,
~ it is a further evolution in terms of practical use and driving performance
~ thanks to improvements in the Hydrogen RE and the use of a new hybrid system

~ extended range between refuelings
~ powerful fun-to-drive feeling
~ increased seating capacity for five adults and greater luggage space

~ the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show model also features Mazda Biotechmaterial derived from plants
~ that contribute to further reductions in CO2 emissions
~ these materials exhibit excellent resistance to heat, shock and wear, as well as weather and fire damage
~ they also offer outstanding versatility and can be employed for interior plastic parts,
~ seat covers and in a variety of other areas

~ Mazda is actively engaged in developing unique technologies, including the hydrogen rotary engine,
~ as part of its efforts to achieve the early realization of a sustainable society
~ Mazda clean energy vehicles running not only on hydrogen but also on gasoline and diesel
~ are expected to play a major role during the process of developing a hydrogen infrastructure

The evolved hydrogen rotary engine delivers Zoom-Zoom power
~ 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
~ a new concept hybrid system to match the new hydrogen rotary engine has been developed
~ the conventional hydrogen rotary engine has problems of low torque and poor combustion efficiency in the low rev range
~ the new system overcomes both of these problems and, combined with increased hydrogen capacity,
~ extends the hydrogen-fueled range to about 200km or twice that of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE
~ the vehicle is also equipped with the highly acclaimed dual-fuel system of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, further enhancing its practical use.
~ the hybrid system efficiently converts energy from hydrogen combustion into electricity that powers the electric motor
~ thanks to progress in electric drive technology, the system realizes high energy-efficiency and
~ a quick response for powerful driving performance allied with low fuel consumption
~ acceleration kicks in the instant you hit the accelerator,
~ creating a dynamic feeling from the synchronized engine and motor power

Energy flow pattern according to driving conditions
~ the main components of hybrid system-the hydrogen rotary engine and generator,
~ inverter, motor, and battery-are optimally controlled to generate electricity,
~ recharge and discharge the battery in accordance with driving conditions

[When pulling away from stop]
- running on battery power

[During regular steady running]
- running on hydrogen rotary engine and generator power

[During acceleration]
- running on hydrogen rotary engine/generator power + battery power

[During deceleration]
- regenerated by motor during braking and engine braking

[Stationary]
- the hydrogen rotary engine stops idling unless the battery needs recharging

Mazda Biotechmaterial for a resource-recycling society
~ the new Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid is a showcase of other original Mazda environmental technologies
~ Mazda is deeply involved in collaborative developments with companies, universities*2, and
~ the government in Hiroshima prefecture as part of the New Regional Consortium Research Development Programme
~ supported by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
~ this enabled to become the first automaker to develop a plant-sourced bioplastic
~ with a high-quality appearance as well as shock and wear resistance suitable for extrusion-molded automobile interior parts
~ in a joint venture with Teijin Ltd, a company with research labs in Chugoku and Shikoku, and
~ Teijin Fibers Ltd, Mazda succeeded in becoming the first in the auto industry to develop a 100% plant-sourced biofabric
~ made of polylactate fibers that exhibits excellent wear, fire and weather resistance for use in automobile seat covers
~ the new Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid uses these Mazda Biotechmaterial for its interior trim and seat covers

Consortium members are:
~ Hiroshima University,
~ Nishikawa Rubber Co., Ltd.,
~ Hiroshima Prefecture Technical Research Institute (Seibu Industrial Technology Center),
~ Daikyo-Nishikawa Co., Ltd.,
~ Japan Steel Works Ltd.,
~ Kinki University Engineering Department,
~ National Research Institute of Brewing,
~ Yasuhara Chemical Co., Ltd.,
~ MANAC, Inc.,
~ Mazda Motor Corporation (2 universities, 6 corporations and 2 experimental and research organizations)

Shock-resistance, heat-resistance and a quality appearance
~ Mazda has developed a unique bioplastic suitable for interior parts
~ to promote crystallization of polylactic acid, researchers developed a seed crystal composed of polylactate
~ with a modified molecular structure that raises the melting point
~ they also developed a new compatibilizer to efficiently disperse flexible constituents to improve shock absorption,
~ resulting in a material with enhanced capability to evenly disperse shock energy
~ the developed bioplastic, which is more than 80% plant-sourced, exhibits greatly improved shock absorption and heat resistance
~ and unlike conventional bioplastics whose properties are suitable for press-forming only,
~ Mazda’s bioplastic can be extrusion-molded
~ consequently, this bioplastic achieves the qualities and appearance required for use in car interior parts
~ combines the properties of wear-resistance, flame-resistance and weather-resistance demanded of fabric for use in automobiles
~ Mazda’s biofabric was developed using a crystallizing agent for polylactic acid
~ with a high melting point polylactate molecular structure (stereo-complex structure)
~ that allows application throughout the entire bio-fiber
~ the resulting biofabric is one hundred percent plant-sourced and exhibits exceptional wear-resistance,
~ flame-resistance and weather-resistance

Introduction of bumper-to-bumper recycling
~ Mazda is the first automaker to introduce bumper-to-bumper recycling-a system
~ that collects damaged bumpers from cars on the road, almost completely removes the paint and reuses the material in new bumpers
~ since its use in the RX-8 in March 2005, the recycled material has been introduced in new models and taken on more applications
~ Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid will also incorporate material recycled in this way

Optical sorting technology discriminates presence/absence of paint
~ the key to bumper-to-bumper recycling is a unique optical sorting technology
~ in the recycling process, collected damaged bumpers are pulverized and formed into pellets with up to 98.5% of the paint removed T
~ the optical sorting technology can accurately distinguish between pellets on the basis of paint content
~ as shown in the illustration, pellets flow down from the shooter past two CCD cameras
~ by blasting the pellets that still contain paint with compressed air,
~ it is possible to achieve a paint removal rate of about 99.9%
~ the paint-free pellets are mixed in with fresh material to form new bumpers
~ pellets that are rejected in the sorting process can be used in material for undercovers, splash guards and similar components

Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid
~ Overall length: 4555mm
~ Overall width: 1745mm
~ Vehicle Overall height: 1615 mm
~ Wheelbase: 2750 mm
~ Seating capacity: 5 persons
~ Engine Type: RENESIS hydrogen rotary engine (dual-fuel system)
~ Fuel: Hydrogen and gasoline
~ Motor: Maximum power 110 kW
~ Type: Synchronous motor
~ Generator: Type Synchronous motor
~ Battery Type: Lithium-ion (Li-ion)
~ Tires: Front/rear 195/65R15 DUNLOP ENASAVE(non-petroleum tire)
~ Name: Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid

»Mazda hydrogen rotary plans 25 September 2006
»MAZDA STARTS LEASING ROTARY HYDROGEN VEHICLES
»MAZDA RX-8 HYDROGEN ROTARY ENGINE: A SPORTS CAR (AND ENGINE) LIKE NO OTHER (2004)
~ Mazda says it is committed to petrol rotary engines
~ there is a question mark hanging over the long-term future of high-revving powerplants due to their thirst and high emissions!
~ Mazda is determined to keep the rotary engine spinning well into the future
~ it is pushing on with plans to introduce an environmentally friendly rotary engine that runs on hydrogen instead of petrol
~ the engine could be linked to an electric motor, which can recharge on the run
~ Mazda plans to introduce its first hydrogen-powered rotary in 2008
~ the first model to use the technology will be the family friendly Mazda5 mini-people mover,
~ a model that will not be coming to Australia
~ president Hisakazu Imaki said the special Mazda5 will be able to run on hydrogen or petrol
~ on the motorway you press a button and you can convert from petrol to hydrogen and you hardly notice the change
~ regular combustion engines are not well suited to running on hydrogen
~ rotaries, which use rotors instead of pistons, are because the combustion area is not as hot
~ Mazda engineers don't have to do much to ensure the rotary can run on hydrogen
~ a petrol-electric hybrid powerplant would not have been as green as the hydrogen rotary
~ the difference is in using hydrogen as a fuel
~ as for the future of the petrol rotary engine, which faces a tough fight as emission rules become stricter
~ Mazda RX-8 sportscar is the only model in the Mazda range to be fitted with a rotary powerplant
~ the public and also the media views the rotary as a brand icon of Mazda
~ Mazda has no plan to fit a rotary engine to the MX-5, even though the light, high-revving engine may suit the roadster
~ MX-5 program manager Takao Kijima has ruled out a rotary engine and even a turbo boost for the convertible sportscar!
~ he says it is more likely the car may be fitted with a slightly larger engine,
~ probably a 2.3-litre four-cylinder with direct injection technology to give the car a mid-life boost
»Mazda hydrogen-powered RX-8 seen outside Japan for first time
~ Mazda displayed the car at the opening of Norway's first hydrogen filling station near Stavanger

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