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Mazda Plans Gas-Hydrogen Hybrid

February 16, 2006

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Mazda Motor Corp. plans to begin leasing a dual-fuel car that can run on both hydrogen and gasoline.

Mazda reports that the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, based on its popular RX-8 sports car, will run on gasoline in the absence of a hydrogen fueling station.

The car is powered by Mazda's rotary engine and can switch between hydrogen and gasoline fuel with the flick of a switch. The Mazda rotary engine is suitable for hydrogen fuel because the separate chambers for fuel intake, combustion and exhaust significantly reduce the danger of the fuel's backfiring compared with a conventional engine.

Mazda, the world's only maker of rotary engines, will lease the RX-8 Hydrogen RE model to Japanese oil refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co. and gas trading company Iwatani International Corp. starting in March for $3,577 a month.

Mazda plans to lease another eight to public and private-sector customers by the end of the year.

Japan has 13 state-owned hydrogen fueling stations, while energy-related companies such as Idemitsu and Iwatani also own their own fueling facilities.

Ford Motor Co. owns a controlling interest in Mazda.

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