Isn't the Nissan E Power using the same idea? Engine as generator. And years ago, the Vauxhall Ampera/ Chevy Volt. Honda Jazz too, although it's engine sometimes drives the wheels directly. So what's new? Just the inefficient Wankel engine I suspect

@@piglet5287 most of them haven't proven to be that efficient or popular. Sometimes theories are great but in practice perhaps not.

@@darylpreston7505 I agree with you! Will the Mazda be different?

@@piglet5287 I had an early 1980's RX7. Small engine, I think 1100cc. You're absolutely correct, they're not very efficient. That said, newer materials, improved batteries, more efficient ICE cars and a seemingly infinite combination of technologies makes this an exciting time for car owners.There is no one size fits all vehicle, especially not just EVs when a certain country produces most of the minerals and batteries for our use. Imagine if our relationship with said country soured and decided, sure you can have new batteries but they're even more $$$$? Just sayin.

@@darylpreston7505 you are echoing the head of Toyota's remarks and I don't disagree. Our authorities should legislate for low emissions but leave it to manufacturers to decide how to get there. Lugging around a huge battery has never appealed to me as an engineering solution, because having read car mags since I was nine, I know that "lightness is best" is the golden rule for making cars that drive well (and are economical).

useless therefore essential

The 1.3L dual rotor (possibly turbo’d) Wankel Rotary Engine used in the Mazda RX-8 is a totally different propulsion unit to the 830cc single rotor unit installed as a range extender in the Mazda MX-30 R-EV. The latter engine uses more advanced technologies and benefits from the latest research into making these engines long lasting. This 830cc Rotary Engine is designed to be a range extender that works exclusively as a generator that charges the battery / provides extra power to the vehicle’s electric traction motor on demand (or as decided by the BMS / ECU). This rotary engine never drives the wheels directly. Its speed is NOT governed by an accelerator cable connected to your throttle pedal. It is set to operate within a very safe zone of no more than 4,500rpm and often marginally less than that. Believe it or not, the often derided Prius has an Atkinson cycle engine which is governed in a similar manner, despite having a throttle pedal. If I recall correctly, the engine runs at only three (or four) specific set levels of RPMs - this is true as I presently own one. The engine jumps between these preset operational RPMs depending on how you press the throttle pedal. For example, you’ll only get the maximum performance from the engine only if you floor the pedal - something that’s rarely done in a Prius - so RPMs seldom go over 4,500rpm in day to day use. The e-CVT transmission (actually a planetary gear set) mimics engine RPMs rising and falling through the full available spectrum like a normal vehicle with a CVT gearbox. This is one of the reasons why those Atkinson cycle engines (on the 2nd Gen Prius for sure) are lasting at least 250,000 miles and often much more. 400,000 - 500,000 miles aren’t uncommon - but, back to the Mazda MX-30 R-EV 830cc Rotary Engine. With its preset levels of operation, this engine is running in an optimised and unstressed regime that will virtually guarantee a long-life for the unit. There’s no turbo attached, no insane revving at 9,000rpm - at most, it’s spinning at half that speed - which research has proven to be the most optimal range of operation for that newly designed Wankel rotary generator unit. As a range extender - it wouldn’t be constantly in operation unless the driver was extremely heavy footed or never bothered to plug the vehicle in to charge. Under normal operation with home charging being the primary energy source of the vehicle and catering for the Monday to Friday daily commute - with longer journeys coming into play on weekends where the rotary might be pressed into service more often, and for longer, this 830cc Rotary Generator should last a great deal longer than many nay-sayers might imagine. Indeed, 10 to 12 years at least, with proper maintenance can be easily expected - if not 15+ years. Obviously, time will tell - but I strongly believe, based on Mazda’s history and experience, that this is likely to be the case. Lastly, nobody seems to be aware that carefully maintained Mazda RX-7 rotary engines were known to last up to 200k miles before wearing out the rotor tips. These were cars whose engines were NOT abused or turbocharged. Ergo, the Mazda MX-30 R-EV Rotary Range Extended will NOT be a problem and will not suffer premature rotor tips wear - even the walls these tips move against have been sprayed with a newly developed coating to reduce tip wear further 😊