Submitted via IRC for AndyTheAbsurd
Mazda Motor Corp said it would become the world's first automaker to commercialize a much more efficient petrol engine using technology that deep-pocketed rivals have been trying to engineer for decades, a twist in an industry increasingly going electric.
The new compression ignition engine is 20 percent to 30 percent more fuel efficient than the Japanese automaker's current engines and uses a technology that has eluded the likes of Daimler AG and General Motors Co.
Mazda, with a research and development (R&D) budget a fraction of those of major peers, said it plans to sell cars with the new engine from 2019.
"It's a major breakthrough," said Ryoji Miyashita, chairman of automotive engineering company AEMSS Inc.
[...] A homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine ignites petrol through compression, eliminating spark plugs. Its fuel economy potentially matches that of a diesel engine without high emissions of nitrogen oxides or sooty particulates.
[...] AEMSS' Miyashita said a key issue would be how smooth and responsive the engine is.
"Is it jerky? If so, that would pose a big question when it comes to commercializing this technology." he said. "Hopefully Mazda has an answer to that question."
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mazda-strategy-idUSKBN1AO0E7
(Score: 2) by BasilBrush on Friday August 11 2017, @02:31AM
I'd be more interested in service charges on the Bolt/Leaf/Model 3. They seem like more typical EVs.
All the components I can think of should need either the same of less maintainance on an EV. There's nothing that would need more. There used to be concern about the batteries needing replacement, but time has shown that actually in most cases the batteries last as long as the car with no maintanace needed (beyond perhaps the coolant you mentioned).
Brakes in particular should require much less maintainance as most of the braking is typically regen.
Hurrah! Quoting works now!