Mazda patents hybrid powertrain with three rotary electric motors

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For many purists, Mazda will always be linked to rotary engine that the company first launched in the 1967 sport cosmo and later in a series of RX-badged sports cars.

Over the years, rotary engines have played important roles in the company’s history, including driving a Le Mans winnerand earlier this year the engine made a comeback, as a range extender for the MX30 compact electric crossover, though not in the US market.

But could we see a more powerful rotary in a modern RX? The biggest hurdle remains getting the fuel-thirsty engine to meet strict emissions standards while increasing output. Mazda’s latest rotary sports car, the RX-8, had just 232 hp but a thirst similar to that of a V-8.

The patent activity suggests that Mazda is considering hybrid technology as a possible solution for a car with a rotary engine that directly drives the wheels.

Mazda patent describing a rotary hybrid powertrain

As first seen by unita patent filed by Mazda with the United States Patent and Trademark Office was posted this week and details a hybrid system in which a front-mounted rotary engine (12) is combined with an electric motor (16), with the two power units sending the transmission to a transaxle (14c) and, ultimately, to the rear wheels (2a). Two more electric motors (20), described as wheel-hub motors, complete the powertrain and make it an all-wheel drive setup.

A similar patent It appeared last year, but the latest one provides a lot more detail about the electric side of the powertrain. The two in-wheel motors are described as 17 kW (23 hp) induction motors, while the motor combined with the rotary is described as a 25 kW (36 hp) permanent magnet synchronous motor.

The latest patent also has an interesting concept for the battery system (18) to store the recovered energy and power the electric motors. The system is a unique variable voltage system in which four individual 48 volt battery systems are packaged for ideal weight distribution. The systems act individually during normal driving, but when full power is required, the switches can connect the batteries to form 96-volt units. Such a design means fewer high-voltage connections are required, helping to reduce weight.

Mazda hasn’t mentioned plans to launch a modern rotary sports car, though there have been plenty of hints over the years, culminating in the reveal of the RX-Vision concept in 2015. All the patent activity suggests that Mazda hasn’t given up on the idea of ​​a rotary sports car, even in a world of increasingly stringent emissions standards.