The new Mazda RX-8 is the latest revolutionary rotary engine that possesses dual-fuel systems which allow the drivers to choose which fuel type to use - from gasoline to hydrogen gas. And when they have decided, they can start using it in just a flick of a switch.
JARI is working with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) on the Establishment of Codes & Standards for a Hydrogen Economy Society project. The new Mazda car will be used and to under go several tests under the R&D activities in order to identify whether hydrogen-running vehicles are safe by the establishing examinations and evaluation techniques and creating proposals for the international standards.
JARI will supply all the hydrogen needed on the tests and evaluations coming from its hydrogen station in the Tsukuba City.
With the high demand of eco-friendly cars, Mazda is developing the hydrogen cars with the rotary engines independently. This car is filled with Mazda parts like catalytic converters that help the car to have cleaner emissions. It also attained approval to test the RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicle on public roads in Japan from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) in October 2004.
Mazda supplied six vehicles to the government and private enterprises for use in various events and initiatives since March last year. And just recently, Mazda collaborated with the MLIT’s Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau (HRDB) to conduct cold weather tests on its RX-8 Hydrogen RE in Muroran City, Hokkaido Prefecture starting Feb 19 to 23 this year.
JARI accepted the seventh Mazda car which was the RX-8 Hydrogen RE.