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Mazda on Friday revealed a rotary range-extended version of its MX-30 electric vehicle, called the Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV.
The MX-30 R-EV will offer a much greater range than the 100 mile EPA MX-30 EV. But as Mazda USA suggested earlier this week, this model previously confirmed for the US may have been delayed or canceled entirely.
The R-EV is nearly indistinguishable from the MX-30 EV except for a few trim differences. That means you get the same somewhat eccentric package—a compact crossover with a somewhat sturdier roofline and two smaller rear-hinged rear doors. Bottom line: The MX-30 has essentially the same overall dimensions as the CX-30 crossover, but doesn’t make up for as much usable passenger space as possible.
2023 Mazda MX-30EV
Instead of a 35.5-kwh battery pack, the R-EV has a 17.8-kwh battery, enabling a range of 53 miles by the more generous European WLTC combined standards. Based on how other plug-in hybrids compare to those European standards, that might mean a plug-in range of roughly 40 miles by US EPA standards, though much of that depends on the test cycle itself.
The Wankel’s rotary engine range-extender is a 0.83-liter unit — with a single rotor, as opposed to the dual-rotor units on the previous RX-8 and RX-7 sports cars — producing just 73 hp and 86 lb-ft of torque. His part time job (and only job) is running generators. That pairs well under the hood with the electric motor, which makes 168 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque here—about 25 hp more but 18 lb-ft less than the MX-30 EV. The official 0-62 mph time is 9.1 seconds
Mazda MX-30 R-EV
Mazda MX-30 R-EV
Mazda MX-30 R-EV
Mazda boasts that using rotary engines instead of reciprocating (piston) engines allows for more compact packaging, and saves weight. The engine side housings are made of aluminum, not steel, says Mazda, which it claims sheds more than 33 pounds. Overall, the R-EV weighs in at 3,912 pounds—257 pounds more than the EV’s curb weight.
Fuel efficiency was poor in earlier rotary designs, and exhaust pipe emissions were challenging, which made this engine design a confusing choice from the start; but Mazda says direct fuel injection makes it more economical. It also added exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to help increase efficiency at low loads, and further improved the seal design, which is the rotary engine’s weak point.
Mazda MX-30 R-EV
Mazda says that the MX-30 provides the same driving experience whether it’s running low on battery or with the engine running long. That’s different from the only other US market-reaching EV in recent years, the BMW i3 REx, which has occasionally been caught off-guard and short on power for long highways, when its tiny two-cylinder range-extender under the cargo floor couldn’t. follow.
The Chevrolet Volt is sometimes called a long-range electric vehicle, but Green Car Reports doesn’t think so, as the full-size petrol engine powers the wheels at light cruising speed.
Mazda MX-30 R-EV
Mazda says that one of the reasons behind this configuration is to extend the driving range for long trips, and despite that and the car’s decent set of specs, nothing has been said about the MX-30 R-EV’s efficiency in range-extender mode—or road reach. highway.
The 13.2-gallon gas tank is unlike the tiny sub-2-gallon tank used in the BMW i3 REx, so given a full load and a full tank, the RE-V will likely offer all ranges of petrol vehicles. And really, what’s to stop drivers from doing that?
The answer might be that, like the i3 REx, it’s just a more fun car to drive with the engine off. Small revs need to be cranked at 4,700 rpm for peak power. The screeching sound of the rotary engine as it starts is charming, but any RX-8 or RX-7 sports car owner can attest that rotary engines tend to be less endearing on long journeys.
There also appears to be a gray area where the engine will run even with a charge—a serious problem for anyone hoping for a true EV driving experience in the city.
Mazda says that in EV mode, the R-EV will exclusively use the electric drive “until the gauges show the battery is completely depleted”. He also notes, even in EV mode: “In addition, in situations such as if the driver needs to accelerate suddenly and deliberately depresses the accelerator pedal significantly beyond a certain point (equivalent to a kickdown switch function in a standard automatic transmission vehicle), the engine generator spin will activate and produce energy for the required output.
Mazda MX-30 R-EV
In Normal mode, Mazda says the rotary engine will start more often, based on how far you press down on the accelerator. Separately, there is also a charge-saving Charge mode so owners can drive quietly in EV mode or later use the car to power up the device. Owners can set how much they want to charge, in 10% increments.
Using the MX-30 R-EV’s 7.2 kW onboard charger — more than the 6.6 kW unit included with the US MX-30 EV — can charge it from 20% to 80% in about 90 minutes, according to Mazda. It’s unclear whether that 20% charge is the low end for mains-only operation. It’s also the only vehicle to have DC fast charging—which, in the case of the R-EV, operates at up to 36 kW and allows for a 20% to 80% charge in about 25 minutes.
The R-EV supports V2L and has a cargo area outlet that offers 1500 watts.
It will launch first in an R Edition version that offers a design inspired by the rotary engine, Mazda says—accented with a Rouge Metallic roof and black body and trim colors.
That includes unique wheels, plus several nods to the unique trochoid shape of the engine’s rotor drive, including a logo that adds an orange accent “to convey the power needed to generate energy,” Mazda said.
Mazda’s rotary engine returns in 2023 as a range extender for the electric MX-30 crossover
Mazda hasn’t confirmed pricing for Europe, but this suggests it’s not as expensive, if anything, more expensive than the MX-30 EV. “Bigger batteries are more expensive, so using one will result in a more expensive vehicle,” he said in the product information provided. “In addition, a life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective demands optimizing battery capacity for vehicles.”
Now that it’s outlined what it is and how pencil specs work, it’s not just Americans who may not get it when they’re shopping for a vehicle, but also vehicles Americans may not get.
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