Mazda tests world’s first hybrid rotary hydrogen vehicle

Mazda Motor Corp. has commenced commercial leasing of the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid, a hydrogen hybrid vehicle that offers substantially improved performance due to the addition of a hybrid system. The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid is Mazda’s second hydrogen rotary engine model to be commercialized. The first was Mazda’s unique RX-8 Hydrogen RE. Its hybrid system boosts the hydrogen fuel range of the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid to 200 kilometers, twice the range of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, and increases the maximum output by approximately 40%, to 110 kilowatts. Meanwhile, the company also said it expects to develop a diesel engine that is cheaper and about as fuel-efficient as some hybrid cars by 2011. Mazda explained it will rely on recent technological advances on internal combustion engines, automatic transmissions and vehicle weight reduction to reach its goal. (March 26, 2009)