Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Mazda Gets Green Light to Road Test Hybrid Vehicle

mazda_ryuga-car

Mazda Motor Corp. says it has received permission from Japan’s Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport to begin testing the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid minivan on public roads.

The minivan incorporates Mazda’s duel-fuel system, which enables the vehicle to run on either hydrogen or gasoline. The system first appeared on the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, which was the world’s first commercially availably hydrogen-powered vehicle in 2006, Mazda says.The Premacy features a hybrid system that combines an electric motor with Mazda’s rotary engine, boosting power 40% and extending the vehicle’s hydrogen-fuel range to 124 miles (200 km), the auto maker says.

The vehicle also boasts a number of environmental technologies that Mazda says help reduce carbon-dioxide emissions, including plant-derived “Mazda Biotechnical Materials,” which will be used in some plastic components and seat covers.read the last entry on : wardsauto.com