DOES IT WORK?
The MX-30 can now be had with a Wankel on-board generator. Sounds complicated…
Mazda’s obsession with the Wankel rotary engine has spanned decades. Now the tech returns in the quirky MX-30 crossover as a range-extender. The version in question is called the MX-30 R-EV, priced from £31,250, and it sits alongside the pure electric one – which has a very short range.
Rotary engines are prized for their smooth power delivery, compact size and low weight – but can be thermodynamically inefficient compared to conventional engines and prone to higher oil consumption and rapid wear. Mazda says it’s worked hard on improving rotor durability and fuel economy here.
The R-EV can be charged conventionally (Mazda quotes 90 minutes for a 20-80 per cent charge on a 7kW charger) and, on a full charge, the R-EV claims a range of 53 miles from its 17.8kWh battery. The state of charge is something you can maintain yourself with the three drive modes. In Normal, the R-EV will aim to maintain a 45 per cent battery charge; EV mode forces the car to run on e-power only until the battery is completely depleted; Charge allows you to reserve your chosen charge level.
When the battery drops to your set point in Charge mode, the rotary engine kicks in. In Normal mode it starts up when the state of charge drops to 45 per cent. In EV mode it waits until there’s no charge. If the battery drops to zero, top speed is limited to 81mph rather
