Felix Wankel’s rotary engine was as revolutionary in 1951 as fuel cells are today. It comprised a three-sided rotor that compressed petroleum gas in three virtual cylinders without changing direction. Mazda and NSU obtained the rights in 1961. Who could have imagined a Mazda Wankel teamed with a hybrid battery back then.
How Mazda Wankel Teamed with a Hybrid Battery
Mazda will throw in the towel officially at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. The decision must have followed much company debate. That’s because this will be Mazda’s first electric test prototype vehicle AKA e-TPV based on the CX-30.
The Mazda Wankel teamed with electric technology in their way assumes small battery packs are the best solution. Website Inside EV’s says this hybrid combo will deliver “the lowest CO2 emissions along a 100,000-mile cycle”. The hybrid battery is the same size as the one in the Honda E fully electric car. However the Mazda e-TPV will also have an internal combustion Wankel engine.
How The New Mazda Concept Hybrid Breaks New Ground
As far as we know this is the first attempt to team an electric vehicle battery with a Wankel design engine. We expect the revolutionary motor will appear in all Mazda’s hybrid cars. Hence a Mazda Wankel teamed with a hybrid battery could become a common sight on American roads.
The company is planning a global rollout judging by the three hybrid-battery combos on offer. According to Inside EV’’s the advanced model will come with a range extender in countries where there are “a fair amount of charging points”. However, it will omit the range extender but add a plug-in where “energy production is dirty”. Finally, if production is “dirty” and “charging points are weak” then the hybrid battery will rely on the Wankel motor for its energy.
Mazda seems to have put more thought into its launch hybrid than some others may have done before it. This one looks good but we’d like to see a pure electric car soon.
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Preview Image: MAZDA CX-30 Basis for e-TPV
