Mazda RX-8 Original Generation Hydrogen RE 1308 cc Dual-Fuel 13B Rotary Engine
The Hydrogen RE used a two-rotor 13B capable of running on hydrogen or gasoline. Mazda’s 2006 Japanese specification rated the same engine at 80 kW on hydrogen and 154 kW on gasoline.
Dual-fuel RENESIS 13B
This engine powered the Mazda RX-8 Original Generation Hydrogen RE. Mazda identified it as a RENESIS hydrogen rotary engine, Type 13B, with displacement of 654 cc × 2: a nominal total of 1308 cc. Its two fuel modes belonged to one engine application, rather than separate hydrogen and gasoline engine variants. This record focuses on the Japanese fleet specification announced in February 2006. Mazda’s launch specification.
Japanese launch ratings
- Hydrogen: maximum output 80 kW (109 PS), maximum torque 140 Nm.
- Gasoline: maximum output 154 kW (210 PS), maximum torque 222 Nm.
These are fuel-specific ratings for the same dual-fuel installation. They should not be combined with output figures from ordinary gasoline RX-8 trims. Mazda’s February specification does not state the engine speeds at which these maxima occur. The vehicle carried separate hydrogen and gasoline supplies, with driver-selectable fuel operation. Factory specification table.
Injection, combustion and control
Mazda’s technical paper describes engine hardware substantially shared with the production RX-8, supplemented by hydrogen injectors. Hydrogen operation combined direct injection with port injection and exhaust-gas recirculation. Different combustion strategies across the operating range addressed output, combustion noise and nitrogen-oxide emissions.
A newly developed electronic control system coordinated hydrogen operation, high-pressure fuel safety and automatic fuel switching. Hydrogen sensors and shut-off valves supported fault detection and isolation. The system could change automatically to gasoline when hydrogen ran out or a hydrogen-system fault occurred.
Fuel changes required coordinated injection, ignition and throttle control because the two fuels needed different combustion settings. Mazda describes changing fuel one rotor at a time to manage the transition, with separate processors handling gasoline and hydrogen control. These features made the conversion a coordinated engine-management development, beyond simply adding a second fuel tank. Mazda Technical Review, 2006, pp. 139–143.
Development and fleet introduction
Mazda exhibited the RX-8 hydrogen development vehicle in 2003 and obtained Japanese public-road testing approval in October 2004. Leasing agreements followed in February 2006. These are calendar events, not model-year designations. Launch announcement.
On 23 March 2006, Mazda confirmed delivery of one car each to Idemitsu Kosan in Tokyo and Iwatani International in Osaka. Its delivery announcement repeated the 13B displacement and fuel-specific ratings, connecting the specification to customer fleet vehicles. Confirmed fleet deliveries.
The cited documents establish Japanese fleet introduction but do not identify a dedicated engine-manufacturing plant or a final production date for this application. The parent generation’s production span should not be substituted for the dual-fuel engine’s production period.
Historical significance
The engine brought Mazda’s hydrogen-combustion work into customer fleet service while retaining gasoline operation. The first recipients participated in Japan’s hydrogen demonstration programme, giving the installation a practical evaluation role beyond exhibition use. Its historical importance rests on that documented transition into service; the initial deliveries do not establish a lifetime production total. Mazda’s fleet delivery report.
Broader vehicle development and later market configurations are covered in the Hydrogen RE variant record.
Sources
- Mazda Starts Leasing Rotary Hydrogen Vehicles — 15 February 2006; introduction and Japanese engine specification.
- Development of RX-8 HYDROGEN RE Dual-Fuel System — Mazda Technical Review No. 24, 2006, pp. 139–143; injection, safety and fuel-switching controls.
- Mazda Delivers First Rotary Hydrogen Vehicles to Corporate Customer Fleets — 23 March 2006; confirmed deliveries and accompanying specification.
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Mazda RX-8 Original Generation Hydrogen RE 1308 cc in 2006
Mazda confirmed the first corporate deliveries of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE on March 23, 2006. Japanese government fleets subsequently joined the limited leasing programme.
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