Hydrogen Power and Mazda 9 Rotary Engine

[Kathianne]

pretty cool, hope it works out:

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08...rotary-engine/

Is hydrogen's future in the hands of Mazda's rotary engine?

Posted Aug 6th 2008 at 4:04PM by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Flex-Fuel, Hydrogen, Mazda



As any regular reader of our site is aware, there are many issues with the notion of using hydrogen as fuel which need to be overcome before there is any chance that you'll find yourself refilling your new car at a hydrogen station any time soon. Not the least of these is the fact that there are almost no hydrogen stations in the first place. Also, whether the hydrogen is used in a fuel cell for an electric car or burned directly in an internal combustion engine, there aren't actually any hydrogen-powered cars available today which you can just go out and buy. Mazda may soon change all of that by introducing a hydrogen-powered rotary-engined RX-9. According to Auto Express, the new car will be dual-fuel capable, with clean credentials coming from hydrogen and performance credentials coming from gasoline. Amazingly, the article claims that Mazda's hydrogen RX could be ready for sale as early as 2012.

[April15]

This is great news for California as the rotary can't make smog in the state.

[Kathianne]

This is great news for California as the rotary can't make smog in the state.

Well if they could work out the hydrogen and internal combustion engine, wouldn't be a problem, Hydrogen emits water, not CO2.

[glockmail]

The Wankel is still an inefficient design, no matter what fuel is used.

[manu1959]

mine works great......120,000 miles and going strong

[April15]

Well if they could work out the hydrogen and internal combustion engine, wouldn't be a problem, Hydrogen emits water, not CO2.

That is my point! Wankels are great engines.

[hjmick]

Just remember what happened the last time people use hydrogen in transportation:

[darin]

This is great news for California as the rotary can't make smog in the state.

Are you saying it can't pass the smog test?

Effeciency depends on how it's measured. 1.3L @ 215hp is pretty efficient. Now, 215hp for 21mpg (freeway) is NOT efficicent.

[April15]

Are you saying it can't pass the smog test?

Effeciency depends on how it's measured. 1.3L @ 215hp is pretty efficient. Now, 215hp for 21mpg (freeway) is NOT efficicent.

The rotary has to high an emissions amount for California.

[PostmodernProphet]

The Wankel is still an inefficient design, no matter what fuel is used.

my son would disagree....he is rebuilding a 93 RX7 right now....

[hjmick]

The rotary has to high an emissions amount for California.

Forgive my ignorance, but...

If this is true, how does Mazda sell it's cars in California? Are they using a different engine?

This is a serious question, I'm not being a smartass... this time.

[manu1959]

Forgive my ignorance, but...

If this is true, how does Mazda sell it's cars in California? Are they using a different engine?

This is a serious question, I'm not being a smartass... this time.

wow ....makes me wonder how my mazda passes smog every year

[April15]

wow ....makes me wonder how my mazda passes smog every year

Not a rotary or is older and is exempt.

[darin]

The rotary has to high an emissions amount for California.

That's news to the HUNDREDS of rx8 owners I've seen online.

www.rx8club.com


(shrug)

Forgive my ignorance, but...

If this is true, how does Mazda sell it's cars in California? Are they using a different engine?

This is a serious question, I'm not being a smartass... this time.

He's mistaken, that's all. RX8s pass smog ALL THE TIME in California.

[manu1959]

The rotary has to high an emissions amount for California.

WRONG!

[edit] Fuel consumption and emissions
In Mazda's RX-8 with the Renesis engine, fuel consumption is now within normal limits while passing California State emissions requirements. The exhaust ports, which in earlier Mazda rotaries were located in the rotor housings, were moved to the sides of the combustion chamber. This approach allowed Mazda to eliminate overlap between intake and exhaust port openings, while simultaneously increasing exhaust port area. The Renesis engine even meets California's Low Emissions Vehicle or LEV standards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_engine