Mazda is a big fan of bold claims, few of which it has yet to deliver. The Hiroshima-based automaker’s groundbreaking SkyActiv-X engine hasn’t even made it to production, but already there are plans to develop a gasoline engine that the company believes will be as clean as an electric vehicle – at least in the sense of an EV’s supply chain of energy creation.
According to Automotive News, Mazda’s powertrain chief revealed the plan during an automotive technical conference in Tokyo, and is planning on calling it SkyActiv-3. The nomenclature is an indication that Mazda is working on its third-generation of SkyActiv high-compression engines.
The first-generation SkyActiv-G engines debuted in 2011, and the second-generation SkyActiv-X will only reach the market in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019. After that, Mazda will prioritise boosting the thermal efficiency of its engines, said Mitsuo Hitomi, Mazda’s managing executive officer in charge of powertrain. Doing so reduces the amount of combustion energy lost to heat while increasing the amount harnessed to power the wheels.
If Mazda can increase the thermal efficiency of its SkyActiv-3 engine by about 27% to 56%, then its emissions will be on par with an EV, Hitomi said. For reference, Toyota’s Dynamic Force Engines boast a thermal efficiency of 40% when used in petrol-powered vehicles and 41% when used in hybrid vehicles.
With SkyActiv-3, Mazda is comparing the well-to-wheel emission of its future engine against an EV, where its measurement takes into account the carbon dioxide emitted from producing the electricity which powers an EV. For internal combustion engine vehicles, it calculates emissions from the extraction of oil and refining of gasoline.
In fact, Mazda’s calculations show that once all activity (energy creation included) is measured, some EVs are dirtier than some existing fuel-efficient, gasoline-powered cars. Mazda believes it can cut CO2 emissions by 25% – this will give Mazda’s gasoline engines real world well-to-wheel fuel economy that’s comparable to EVs that derive their electricity through the burning of liquefied natural gas, Hitomi added.
While Hitomi did not specify a timeline for the SkyActiv-3 technology, he said it would prolong the life of the internal combustion engine in this era of electrification. Thoughts, anyone?
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The way to clean energy is via renewables & solid state storage. Once this happens, EV car dun emits. Can a ICE car say the same?
Solid state it is! Calik….
To hell with soulless EVs.
Long live the internal combustion engine.
Long live big ass, high revving guzzlers that sing, as I jizz along every straight roads on wave of high rpm orgasm.
Long live the holy trinity of driver, chassis and ENGINE!
Sadly, our environ cant take much more of this passion. The next best thing is to do the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs via EV.
So U are a Petrol-head through & through & don’t give a damn WTF the world think. Gud for U & gud for High raving engines.
Yeps. Higher fuel price no problemo.
Instead of bitching about the (inevitable) rise of fuel prices, I’d rather concentrate on working out how to insulate my lifestyle from such effects, so that I can enjoy whatever the hell I want to, whenever the hell I want to. Now that’s freedom.
err.. which form of renewable energy source u refer to ? solar is the only real clean source other than fuel cell. so if mazda can do as it claim, that will be interesting to hear how it is done… from engineering point of view its an innovation.
Every form. Hydro, wind, solar, waves, geothermal. I dun see how Mazda can turn solar & wind into petrol.
john: In oil refinery, crude oil is heated in a furnace. Now don’t you think this heating process can be integrated with renewable energy?
Toyota Mazda alliance roll on
https://paultan.org/2017/08/03/toyota-stands-by-natural-aspiration-for-its-engines-dynamic-force-for-v6-and-v8-mills-are-in-the-works/
April already? Unless they can use solar wind to produce petrol otherwise its just talking crap. At present only electricity can be produce by solar and wind.
How would we acquire the exotic materials to make them? Those Neodymium magnets to make 1.5 MW wind generators are not exactly clean to mine. How much energy do you think would those 30 ton turbine blades need to be transported up the highlands, and how much energy do you think it takes to hoist a 50 ton nacelle up a 30 metre tower which itself weighs 70 tons? Solar panels are also dirty to make, heavy to transport, and they lose 1% efficiency each year.
We are making incredible progress with these technologies, but we’re not going to see them being “cleaner” than thoughtfully made ICE cars anytime this decade. By the time Lithium Iron oxide batteries become possible, and solar panels with 40+% efficiency with a 30 year lifespan becomes available commercially, Mazda themselves would already have switched to electric.
Also, why do you think it’s impossible to produce combustible fuel with renewable energy? There are several ways to do so. It is also possible to integrate renewable energy in petrol refinery processes, and there are studies done in the Middle East.
Agree.. EV is not purely clean.. even with solar and wind resources, it still need to be dumped somewhere highly toxic material built for batery unit itself after itslife cycle.. Some says, the only nearly pure clean tech is hydrogen fuel cell made by renwable decomposed materials from dumb site which is currently produced by join force between toyota and local municipal in california to feed fcv there..
I always wonder, for that kind of high compression ratio engine the Mazda is giving us, and yet don’t have to use 97 octane petrol…
fact or just Mazda trying to sell cars?
Direct injection. Only the air is sucked into the chamber, and petrol is injected later, much like how diesel engines work. To avoid knocking, they can control both the spark timing (as usual) and injection timing and pattern.
anynymous.. u are right on the spot. direct injection.. I wonder if egr does help?.. do u noticed mazda engine bay kinda larger than its competitor? is there extra cooling capabilities built in to manage the extra heat generated ?
cheers
frankC: I would expect EGR also helps. EGR gases displaces the charge air and absorbs some of the heat (because the gas is inert and doesn’t burn with the fuel). As for the engine bay area, I don’t know. Might have more to do with styling, crash safety, multi-engine compatibility, wiggle space to tilt the engine. Most likely they wanted to have the engine at a certain position (maybe behind the axle), but don’t want the hood to be shortened for styling and/or safety reasons.
The current SkyActiv leaves more questions than answers.. the fuel consumption, power figures are roughly the same as other competitors, and worse in some cases. No idea what tech they are promoting when there is no tangible difference in outputs
Not really. Dont only look at the paper figures. Drive
Not really true. On paper, from figures on paper you may be right. What is more important is the driving feel. At the very very least, Mazda dont use CVT for all their common consumer car compare to the competition. No rubber band effect and no CVT whine when pushing hard uphill.
In terms of driving feel, comparing a CX-5 2.0L to a CRV 2.0L , the CX-5 feels alot more powerful to me. Fuel consumption in 100% city driving in KL is 10~11km/l . I think its good enough.
This article seems to have more to do with WTW )Well to Wheels), rather than TTW (Tank to Wheels).
Quoting from the article……
“With SkyActiv-3, Mazda is comparing the well-to-wheel emission of its future engine against an EV, where its measurement takes into account the carbon dioxide emitted from producing the electricity which powers an EV. For internal combustion engine vehicles, it calculates emissions from the extraction of oil and refining of gasoline.”
So it’s not relating solely to the emission from running the car. Seems that they are claiming that if they can improve the engine, then emissions will/could be lower than an EV when you take the whole supply chain into consideration.
Mazda SkyActive engine with low fuel consumption tech is crappy. Their accelerator pedal are design such that only with heavy footing will the car go fast and high compression fuel are old school. Now they are playing catch up with 2.5L turbo engine churning out 227hp whereas most manufacturers are doing 2.0L at 250hp or in the case of 300hp for Jag. Go try any Conti 1.4L turbo and then Mazda 2.0L, you will know what really turbo is. Lastly, Mazda is still very far off from implementing Hybrid and EV tech, if they don’t move fast sure become small volume seller
Well DUH.
You don’t see the contradiction? You know Mazda aim fuel efficiency, and yet faulting Mazda for requiring a heavy foot to go faster? Isn’t that how it should work? Gentle throttle for fuel efficiency, and stomp on the pedals if you want more power. What’s difficult to understand about that?
Only their sports models are advertised as “sporty”, and you will notice that those cars don’t have SkyActiv engines.
I stand corrected, I forgot about the latest MX-5. However, the mazda3 MPS and the previous gens MX-5 did not have the SkyActiv.
well at least they have a big target..
proton once had the development of the petronas engine which i believe is a good marketing strategy..but now quite after geely ‘acquisition’..anyone know the update?
perodua? maybe rebadge another engine
The answer for your question is, our engineers failed to deliver. Campro,ultimate failure. Petronas engine, still didn’t see the light.
How so is Campro a failure? Do elaborate with facts.
Like this perhaps:
1. High fuel consumption.
2. Shitty low-end torque.
3. IAFM module failure is common.
4. Turbo ones ?? Go back to point 1 plus more thirsty.
5. Engine mounting premature failure is common.
6. Emissions control failure thus cannot export to sell in Europe.
ICE moving parts vs motor moving part, which of these gona teardown 1st? Obviously ev ftw
PRoblem with EV is when u buy the vehicle you are paying upfront 5-10years worth of fuel money…
bodoh mazda, i use solar panel to generate electricity for my car. now what?
ya u use solar to charge ur car now, but if EV is dominating the market, there will be more chemical waste as more power stations will need to be built to supply enough electricity to power all those public charging station as the short mileage and the long time for charging the car for long journey. if Mazda could improve their fuel efficiency and reduced the emission of the CO2 to a certain level. it could be as leveled as the waste emitted from the whole chain of production of EV.
I just wonder if mazda is buying time as they just start their EV r&D ? Or simply just to cover their mistake for being late to the EV market ?
Mazda no late they obviously hate ev petrol is going to last another 40 years yes Mazda
Yes Mazda is going to be #1 all your base belong to Mazda