During the 2003 Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda created a milestone by creating the first and only rotary hybrid car in the world.

The Mazda RX-8 Renesis has an electronically-controlled direct-injection rotary engine with a high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank. It also runs on gasoline as well – this is what we mean by a rotary hybrid car.

According to Mazda, “The RENESIS Hydrogen Rotary Engine incorporates an electronically-controlled hydrogen injector system (the hydrogen is injected in a gaseous state). The system draws air from the side port during the induction cycle and uses dual hydrogen injectors in each of the engine’s twin rotor housings to directly inject hydrogen into the intake chambers. By virtue of its construction, with separate chambers for induction and combustion, the rotary engine is ideally suited to burn hydrogen without inviting the backfiring that can occur when hydrogen is burned in a traditional piston engine. The separate induction chamber also provides a safer temperature for fitting the dual hydrogen injectors with their rubber seals, which are susceptible to the high temperatures encountered in a conventional reciprocating engine.”

Like what you expect from a hybrid, the Renesis provides less impact on the environment: has low emissions, is fuel efficient, and has an outstanding fuel economy. It includes regenerative braking, idle-stop systems and electric acceleration assistance systems. It also employs a couple of other eco-friendly features like using a water-based paint, applied wet three times, which reduces the emission of organic solvents, speeds drying time and reduces CO2 gases. The RX-8 also uses plant-based plastic parts on the interior that are not derived from petroleum unlike other plastics.

The new rotary engine used by the RX-8 Renesis is a positive addition to Mazda’s hybrid vehicles. We can bet other automakers will be developing their own one in time.