HIROSHIMA: Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled the Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, a plug-in hybrid model that uses a rotary engine as a generator, at the Brussels Motor Show on Friday.
The MX-30 launched in 2020 as Mazda's first mass-production battery electric vehicle, with a mild hybrid model joining the product lineup for some markets.
The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is a series plug-in hybrid. It has an 85 km battery electric driving range sufficient for a wide range of everyday driving needs as well the ability to use a generator to enable long distance drives. On top of this, the entire driving range is motor-powered.
Mazda chose to use a rotary engine to power the generator system. Leveraging the unique way in which rotary engines can produce the required output with a small power unit, Mazda developed the new rotary engine to work as a generator and positioned it on the same axle as a high-output motor and a generator in the motor room.
Mazda then paired this compact electric power unit with a 17.8 kWh lithium ion battery and a 50 litre petrol tank to achieve the unique series plug-in hybrid system.
The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV can suport normal and fast charging, has 1,500 W power supply functionality, and three drive modes drivers can choose from to suit different driving situations: Normal, EV, and Charge modes.
Additionally, the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV will be available in a special edition model: “Edition R.”
Edition R vehicles feature black-based exterior and interior trims with Maroon Rouge Metallic, a remake of the roof colour of Mazda's first passenger vehicle, the Mazda R360 Coupe, as an exterior accent colour. It also includes exclusive design elements such as a rotor-shaped emblem sewn into the floor mats and embossed on the seat headrests.
With no mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels, the rotary unit simply acts as a generator, ensuring the MX-30 R-EV always drives via the electric motor to deliver a seamless EV driving experience.
Compatibility with both AC charging and rapid DC charging is another benefit, meaning 3-phase AC charging takes around 50mins, while for maximum customer flexibility, DC rapid charging can be completed in around 25 minutes.
The Mazda MX-30 R-EV has three drive-modes to suit different driving situations: Normal, EV and Charge, and thanks to a 125kw/170ps output, it delivers slightly better acceleration performance than the 145ps fully electric MX-30 .
Between the launch of the Mazda Cosmo in 1967 and production of the RX-8 ending in 2012, Mazda mass-produced more than 2 million rotary engines.
Adapted to meet the needs of modern times the rotary engine is now being used as a power generator rather than a drive unit.
The new 8C rotary engine is a 830cc single rotor with a 120mm rotor radius and 76mm rotor width, its compact size enables coaxial placement and integration with the electric motor, decelerator and generator to achieve a unit with an overall width of less than 840mm, allowing it to fit under the bonnet without changes to the MX-30 body frame.
Thanks to the use of aluminum the engine is over 15kg lighter than the twin-rotor Renesis engine used in the RX-8. The use of direct fuel injection reduces emissions and increases fuel economy, while the engine also features an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system to improve efficiency at low rpm and low load running.
A 17.8kwh battery was chosen to ensure enough capacity for a 85km electric-only driving range while at the same time considering the environmental impact of the battery over the entire vehicle life cycle.
The MX-30 R-EV’s high output 122kw/166ps electric motor can produce up to 260Nm of torque.
Mazda claims the new R-EV retains the same relaxed, accurate and engaging driving experience as the pure-electric MX-30.
