Mazda continues to shake – now in a hybrid

The Japanese have been working on this special engine concept since 1963, and since 1967 they have brought twelve car models to serial production. In the future, the Wankel engine in hybrid vehicles will be used to increase the range and enable better driving.

Compared to the “normal” hybrid, where the electric motor supports the combustion engine and replaces it temporarily, in the serial hybrid there is no connection between the combustion engine and the axles – it is used only to generate electricity and the car is always electric. . This concept has many advantages over a conventional hybrid: the engine can always work at its best and its efficiency does not interfere with the gearbox and the speed drop. As a power generator, the motor works with constant speed control, which allows it to work very efficiently. At the same time, the traction battery of the car can be smaller – and therefore cheaper – than in a purely electric car. The battery then is usually used to cover the “hybrid” range – in the currently available Mazda e-Sky R-EV around 85 km (capacity 17.8 kWh) and to cover load peaks. In this way, the electric motor can have a higher peak performance in a shorter time than the power that the combustion engine can provide in the form of a generator – the additional use is taken from the traction battery.

The idea of ​​a serial hybrid is not new, but what is special is the combination with the Wankel engine. Due to its special performance, the engine is very compact and therefore suitable for use in hybrids where space is at a premium. In addition, the concept of Wankel provides a perfect mass balance, which helps especially with the levels of noise and vibration in the car – by eliminating the combustion engine, noise is heard in an electric car that would not be seen in a conventional car.

The single disc engine of the e-Sky R-EV produces 55 kW (75 hp) and 116 Nm from its 830 m³ and complies with the strict Euro 6d-ISC-FCM emission standards. In the WLTP cycle, the unit achieves a consumption of 1l / 100 km and a CO² emission of 21g per kilometer. Now 36 Mazda engineers are required to continue the development of the rotary piston engine. We’re excited to see if and when the next Wankel hybrid becomes available.

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