Mazda MX-30 R-EV: What is Mazda’s Rotary Range Extender?
If you’re looking for news on the Mazda MX-30 hybrid, or MX-30 R-EV, you may have heard that it’s launching as a Mazda MX-30 plug-in hybrid or PHEV model fitted with a Rotary Range Extender.
Mazda’s Rotary Range Extender (RRE) is a small, lightweight engine that acts as a generator to charge the battery of an electric vehicle. The RRE can also be used to power the vehicle’s electric motors when needed, extending the range of the electric vehicle.
The Mazda Rotary Range Extender is Years in the Making
The RRE was first developed for use in a Mazda2 or Mazda Demio REEV (Range Extended Electric Vehicle), a prototype car that was shown at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.
The Hiroshima-based automaker has been developing the Mazda MX-30 R-EV rotary range extender model as a new plug-in hybrid variant of its MX-30 electric vehicle. The new powertrain utilizes an electric motor with a rotary engine as a generator. The result is an estimated 53 miles of pure electric range before the rotary engine kicks in to generate electricity and extend the total driving range to over 400 miles.
The Rotary Range Extender is famously based on Mazda’s Wankel rotary engine, which has been used in several Mazda vehicles over the years, most notably the RX-7 sports car. The compact rotary engine has been optimized for use in the Mazda MX-30 hybrid, or MX-30 R-EV.
Mazda’s rotary engine has long been lauded for its compactness and high power-to-weight ratio. However, it has also been criticized for its high fuel consumption and emissions. The Rotary Range Extender is designed to address these issues while also significantly boosting the MX-30’s total driving range.
Mazda plans to start production of the Mazda MX-30 R-EV in 2023, with sales expected to begin in Europe and Japan. This new Mazda MX-30 plug-in hybrid model with a Rotary Range Extender will likely arrive in the U.S. and other markets following its initial launch.
More Mazda Rotary Range Extended Models to Come?
The Rotary Range Extender is just one of the many innovative technologies that Mazda is working on. Beyond the Skyactiv-X engine and its Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (“SPCCI”) technology, the company is also developing an electric vehicle platform, which will be used in a range of new EVs.
There is also talk of a new electrified Mazda sports car, developed in conjunction with Toyota, with Mazda’s version featuring a rotary engine powering the wheels with assistance from an electric drivetrain. Only time will tell if Mazda’s unique rotary engine will live on in some form in the age of electrification and increased fuel economy and emissions regulations.
Whether a rotary-hybrid-powered Mazda sports car becomes a reality or just another rotary rumor, fans of this increasingly obscure Mazda engine type can at least look forward to what comes with the release of the Mazda MX-30 plug-in hybrid with its unique Rotary Range Extender.
If you’re dreaming of adding a smooth and high-revving Mazda rotary-powered car to your garage, view our Mazda auctions and classified ads listings to see what you find for inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Mazda MX-30 hybrid have a rotary engine?
Mazda is developing a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of its MX-30 EV. The PHEV version of the Mazda MX-30 will be powered by an electric motor and assisted by a Rotary Range Extender. The Mazda rotary engine will act as a generator for the Mazda MX-30 plug-in hybrid electric powertrain. So, the rotary engine will not drive the wheels of the new MX-30 R-EV model.
Why use a rotary engine in the Mazda MX-30 hybrid?
The Mazda rotary engine’s compact size and smooth operation make it ideal for a hybrid or plug-in hybrid car like the Mazda MX-30 R-EV. The lightweight and smooth-running rotary engine will assist the MX-30’s electric drivetrain as a generator. This setup utilizes the benefits of a rotary engine without the typical drawbacks.
Will there be a Mazda rotary hybrid sports car?
There are rumors that Mazda is developing an electrified sports car platform with Toyota. The Mazda version of the next-generation sports car is rumored to utilize a rotary engine to drive the wheels, assisted by a powerful electric drivetrain. We’ll have to wait and see if this rotary engine rumor becomes a reality.
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