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Mazda
RX-8 Renesis
Mazda debuted its RX-8 RE hybrid with Renesis Hydrogen Rotary
Engine at the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show. The Renesis is an electronically-controlled
direct-injection rotary engine with a high-pressure hydrogen
fuel tank. The RX-8 Renesis also runs on gasoline as well, making
the Mazda car the first and only rotary hybrid as well as the
first and only rotary hydrogen-gasoline hybrid in the world.
Pictured right is the Mazda RX-8 RE.
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According to Mazda, "The RENESIS Hydrogen Rotary Engine
incorporates an electronically-controlled hydrogen injector
system (the hydrogen is injected in a gaseous state). The system
draws air from the side port during the induction cycle and
uses dual hydrogen injectors in each of the engine's twin rotor
housings to directly inject hydrogen into the intake chambers.
By virtue of its construction, with separate chambers for induction
and combustion, the rotary engine is ideally suited to burn
hydrogen without inviting the backfiring that can occur when
hydrogen is burned in a traditional piston engine. The separate
induction chamber also provides a safer temperature for fitting
the dual hydrogen injectors with their rubber seals, which are
susceptible to the high temperatures encountered in a conventional
reciprocating engine."
The Mazda RX-8 RE hybrid car also employs a couple of other
environmentally friendly features of which one would not
normally think. For instance, the RX-8 uses a water-based
paint, applied wet three times, which reduces the emission
of organic solvents, speeds drying time and reduces CO2
gases. The RX-8 also uses plant-based plastic parts on the
interior that are not derived from petroleum unlike other
plastics.
Other environmentally-friendly and efficiency-friendly
systems that Mazda is working on for future generations
include regenerative braking, idle-stop systems and electric
acceleration assistance systems. An electric motor assist
turbocharger is being developed to enhance the efficiency
of hydrogen combustion and regeneration of energy from the
car's exhaust. Mazda also plans to merge the hydrogen-gasoline
hybrid system with an electric motor counterpart, or tribrid
technology, in order to create even greater efficiency and
cleaner running systems than ever before. This tribrid technology
will feature an electric motor, inverter and 144v battery
and H2ICE engine. Tribrid technology will likely replace
hybrid technology for other vehicles as well in the transition
to all-hydrogen technology when the hydrogen economy starts
to take hold.
And if you can say tribrid, you can surely say Zoom-Zoom.
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