Mazda develops high powered generator

Rotary engine specialist Mazda has developed a portable electricity generator that it says is far more powerful and quieter than traditional piston engine models.

The same downsized single-rotor engine that serves as a range extender in the Mazda2 EV concept car, has been applied to a compact electricity generator that could be used to power homes, camp sites or emergency shelters.

Relatively lightweight at around 100kg, the 330cc single-rotor engine is mounted on its side under the rear of the Mazda2 EV, via three mounting points, eliminating vertical vibration.

In its portable generator application, it measures just 700mm tall, 300mm wide and 400mm deep, and is fitted with a belt drive system to rotate the generator at double speed.

It's equipped with a nine-litre fuel tank that can feed the downsized rotary engine (which is about a quarter of the capacity of the 13B rotary that powered the recently discontinued RX-8 sports car) a range of fuels including petrol, butane or propane.

Apart from its compact size, light weight and ability to run on multiple fuel types, Mazda cites noise as a major advantage, following testing that shows it’s at least 5dB quieter at the same revs than an equivalent petrol or diesel piston engine.

More importantly, with an output of 22kW at a constant 4500rpm and peak power of 28kW at 6000rpm, Mazda says it’s as powerful as fixed diesel generators that cost more than $10,000, weigh up to 580kg and require a trailer to transport, as well as being far more powerful than conventional petrol generators around the same weight and – potentially – price.

“This is a further concept of the rotary engine electric generator,” said Takashi Suzuki, the program manager of Mazda’s Powertrain Development Division.. “We are considering this system could also be used as a portable electric generator.

“We think there is a market for a rotary engine electric generator. A lot of electric generators are sold in the marketplace. There is no mobile electric generator that can produce 15-20kW-plus (of) electric power.”