Mazda once again confirms its continuous commitment to achieving carbon neutrality and is experimenting with new 100% bio-based fuel solutions also in motor racing, which has always been a test bed for production cars.
The collaboration between Japanese brands and first experiments
The Hiroshima house is collaborating with Subaru and Toyota, as well as two-wheeler manufacturers Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Yamaha, on the development of alternative fuels for internal combustion engines.
Mazda participated in the Super Taikyu Race series which took place at the Okayama International Circuit, fielding a car equipped with a conventional diesel engine (Skyactiv-D 1.5) powered by 100% bio-based fuel obtained from used cooking oil and microalgae fats. From next year, the Japanese manufacturer will renew its participation during the season in all the events of this series of endurance races.
Complete range of engines including biodiesel
To achieve carbon neutrality, Mazda believes it is important to offer customers various alternatives. With this in mind, the Japanese company intends to expand its range of engines by investing not only in conventional hybrids, models with diesel and electric engines as well, but also in plug-in hybrid models (Phev), while promoting initiatives in the renewable fuel sector. , such as next generation biodiesel. The latter, made with sustainable raw materials such as microalgae fats and used cooking oil, are not in contrast with the human food supply, an aspect that is problematic in today’s biodiesel. Since these fuels can be used without modification as alternatives to diesel even in existing vehicles and equipment, no additional distribution infrastructure is required. Therefore, biodiesel fuels can be expected to play a leading role as an excellent source of liquid fuel in promoting carbon neutrality.
Biofuels: the first tests in competitions
Mazda is a member of the “Your Green Fuel” project, an initiative underway in Hiroshima to disseminate and spread the use of next-generation biofuels, jointly conducted by the Hiroshima Council for Automotive Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration (Hirojiren) and Euglena Co. The project aims to define a model to revive areas of the region through the entire value chain of zero-emission fuels, from the production and supply of raw materials to the use of fuels in the area.
In August 2020, the project confirmed that this biodiesel was performing on par with petroleum-based diesel and Mazda began using it in its diesel-powered company cars.
The Skyactiv-D 1.5 engine, installed on the Mazda that participated in the 94-rpm Super Taikyu Race, showed maximum performance using the new generation biodiesel without any modifications to the engine. As a demonstration test with a new generation biodiesel derived entirely from biomaterials, the “Mazda Spirit Racing Bio concept Demio” participated in the St-Q class using a biofuel called “Susteo” supplied by Euglena and with the collaboration of the Nopro racing team. And the plan is to use Euglena’s fuel for next season as well.
Competitions as a test bed for the future
The Super Taikyu Races have been held since 1991 as endurance races for production cars and the St-Q class is a category open to cars developed by manufacturers and approved by the Super Taikyu Organizing Committee.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Subaru, Toyota, Mazda and Yamaha have jointly announced the challenge to expand the range of possible fuels associated with internal combustion engines in the Super Taikyu Race series. In particular, to further expand the options for the production, transport and use of fuel, the five companies intend to join and pursue the following three initiatives: participate in tenders that use zero-emission fuels; explore the use of hydrogen engines in two-wheelers and other vehicles; and continue to compete using hydrogen engines.