Mazda Has Come Up With An All-wheel Drive Hybrid Based On A Rotary Motor

Mazd has registered a new hybrid powertrain scheme with the Japanese Patent Office. It is built around a Wankel rotary piston engine (RPD). The schemes from the documents were published by the Japanese portal Super.Asurada.

• Rotary engine with 34 hp 48-volt starter-generator. (200 Nm) is installed between the front axle and the passenger compartment. It transmits all traction to the rear axle through an unnamed gearbox, and each front wheel has a built-in 23-horsepower (200 Nm) 120-volt electric motor.
• The front electric motors are powered by a supercapacitor and lithium-ion battery system located under the bonnet. The capacitors are charged by recuperation, transferring excess energy to the battery bank. In addition, a 48-volt battery with a capacity of 3.5 kWh is installed in the center of the car bottom.
• The creators note that the new hybrid setup is more efficient and lighter than other all-wheel drive hybrids. Including due to the reduction in the length and weight of high-voltage wires. The main unit can be a standard internal combustion engine, but the developers consider a rotary motor more preferable due to its compact size and low weight.

It is not yet known which Mazd models will receive such a unit. The rotary engine will appear on the MX-30 electric crossover: it will be installed to charge the traction battery and increase the range.