Mazda keeps to its word with the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, running the rotary as a generator

Having never thought the day would come, Mazda’s having the last laugh by keeping to its word and finally, officially back to producing a rotary engine again… in 2023. The Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV that was unveiled in Europe will be a unique series plug-in hybrid using a rotary engine as a generator.

As Mazda’s first mass-produced battery-electric vehicle, the MX-30 was lambasted for its atrocious range. Hiroshima quickly sought to remedy this the solution was in the form of a throwback to its glory days of rotary engines.

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The MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV is a series plug-in hybrid with an 85 km battery electric driving range. As this depletes, the rotary generator kicks in to recharge the battery as you’re driving. Only the electric motor propels the car, the petrol-rotary engine’s job is only to charge the batteries.

Mazda wisely chose to leverage its wealth of knowledge with rotary engines as the mill is capable of meeting the output requirements with a much physically smaller power unit.

The petrol-rotary engine is positioned on the same axle as the electric motor. It’s paired with a smaller 17.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. For comparisons sake, the BEV MX-30 has a larger 35.5 kWh pack. Mazda had to reduce the size of the pack to accommodate a 50-litre petrol tank. The smaller pack also explains the shorter range of 85 km (vs 200km).

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Complementing the generator system is compatibility with both normal and fast charging, 1,500 W power supply functionality as well as three drive modes drivers can choose from to suit different driving situations: Normal, EV and Charge modes.

A lucky few buyers might be able to get their hands on the special edition “Edition R” model. Dress up bits include black-based exterior and interior trims with Maroon Rouge Metallic, a remake of the roof colour of Mazda’s first passenger vehicle, the R360 Coupe, as an exterior colour. You’ll also find exclusive design elements such as a rotor-shaped emblems embroidered into the floor mats and embossed on the seat headrests.

Mazda engineers worked feverishly to bring the rotary generator in the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV up to modern standards. Designated 8C, the range-extender rotary engine uses 80 mm wide housings, plasma coated aluminium side plates and 2.5 mm apex seals.

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To put in perspective, the 8C can thank the 16X prototype engine from the RX-Vision concept. The larger size and larger eccentricity of the rotors solves the lack of low-end power and creates more torque across the power band.

16X denoted a displacement of 1.6 litres from the two rotors. Accordingly, the single rotor 8C in the MX-30 has a displacement of 830-cc that doubles up to… 1.6-litres, further proving its link to the 16X. Power from the 830-cc comes in at 76 PS (@ 4,700 rpm) with a compression ratio of 11.9:1.

The last production rotary engine from Mazda was the 1.3-litre Renesis in the RX-8 that displaced 654 cc, bringing the total capacity to 1,308 cc.

Much like the 16X, it uses aluminium side-plates to keep weight down. The 13b engine from the RX-7 had iron side-plates.

The Renesis engine in the RX-8 had side intake and exhaust ports to meet emission requirements at the cost of power. Mazda has continued with this layout for the 8C as the goal was efficiency over outright power.

Even the combustion pocket on the rotor has been reshaped for a more optimal burn during the combustion process that’s further aided by direct injection. Direct injection delivering fuel closer to the combustion chamber improves fuel efficiency.

As you can see, the 8C engine adopts plenty of emission features from the Renesis engine in the RX-8 but has been upgraded with modern materials and technology.

It remains to be seen if all these can be scaled to fit a turbocharged multi-rotor engine that actually drives the wheels. Something tells us it’s entirely possible, meaning the RX-Vision might yet live to see the light of day and the grenading of apex seals.