Mazda Expands Hydrogen RX-8 Test Fleet

HIROSHIMA, Japan — Mazda rolled out another flex-fuel RX-8 Hydrogen RE research vehicle this week in its continuing quest to gather real-world data on cars that can run on either hydrogen or gasoline. This vehicle was turned over to the Japan Automobile Research Institute for testing.

Unlike other auto companies, which use piston-driven power plants for hydrogen application, Mazda is convinced that a rotary engine is a better answer. It argues that the rotary engine's compact size and the use of separate intake and combustion chambers make it better suited for hydrogen fuel. The 107-horsepower flex-fuel RX-8 can travel 62 miles on hydrogen and cover 340 miles on 16 gallons of gas.

This latest version of the flex-fuel RX-8 Hydrogen RE will be used to create proposals for international hydrogen standards and help develop safety regulations, among other things.

© Source: article on insideline
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