Mazda dealers in Japan are now accepting pre-orders for the rotary-powered range-extended Mazda MX-30 Rotary EV.

Unlike the battery-only MX-30 EV that we have here, this new MX-30 Rotary EV adds a small, lightweight 830cc rotary engine for use as a back-up generator. It’s technically a series-type plug-in hybrid, with a 17.8 kWh battery (~half of the MX-30 EV’s 35.5 kWh).

Note that unlike the more common parallel-type plug-in hybrid, the MX-30 Rotary EV’s series hybrid setup’s rotary engine has no direct path to the wheels / transmission, it serves solely as a power generator.

This being a Japanese market car, charging is of course via a Type 1 socket for regular AC charging, and CHAdeMO for DC fast charging.

Mazda says the MX-30 Rotary EV has an EV-only driving range of up to 107 km (WLTP). Like the fully electric MX-30, With the rotary engine in use, it has a claimed fuel consumption of 15.4 km/litre (WLTP).

Despite the electrification, the MX-30 Rotary EV has an unusually large 50-litre fuel tank. There’s a good reason for it. More on that later.

Japanese market models also benefit from both V2L and V2H.

With V2L, the 3-pin power socket in the boot can supply up to 1,500 W of power, enough to power many household appliances. There’s also a lower rating 150 W socket in front.

V2H on the other hand, allows users to, in the event of a blackout, use the MX-30 Rotary EV as a giant battery for their home (additional charger / discharger, sold separately, required). With a 50-litre fuel tank keeping the 17.8 kWh battery charged, Mazda says the V2H function can power an average home for up to 9 days.

The MX-30 Rotary EV makes 170 PS / 260 Nm. For comparison, the battery-only MX-30 EV makes 145 PS / 271 Nm.

Prices in Japan range from 4,235,000 Yen to 4,917,000 Yen. That’s cheaper than the non-fueled, pure electric MX-30 EV, which is priced from 4,510,000 Yen to 5,016,000 Yen.

Closer to home, Bermaz Motor sells the battery-only Mazda MX-30 EV for RM 198,980.