Hydrogen rotary RX-8 delivered

Mazda has claimed a world first -- the first 'fleet' lease deliveries of dual-fuel hydrogen-petrol engined street car.

The cars in question are specially-equipped versions of the maker's RX-8 sportster. Just two have been delivered -- one each to Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd. in Tokyo, and Iwatani International Corporation in Osaka, Japan.

Officially termed RX-8 Hydrogen REs, the rotary-engined cars are fitted with a dual-fuel system that allows the driver to select either hydrogen or petrol -- a la LPG-petrol cars used Down Under.

The cars have two fuel systems drawing from 60-litre petrol and 110-litre high-pressure hydrogen tanks. Power in hydrogen mode is close to half the RX-8's dual-fuel's 154kW on petrol.

Range on hydrogen is also limited -- around 100km (the petrol range is claimed to be approx 550km).

The cars will take part in the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC) -- a real world trial of alternative fuel technologies.

Akihiro Kashiwagi, RX-8 Hydrogen RE development program manager, said: "We’re pleased to deliver these hydrogen rotary vehicles for fleet use in these two companies. And we are looking forward to hearing feedback from our customers about the cars.”

Mazda has been experimenting with hydrogen-fuelled vehicles since 1991 when it developed its first, the gullwing-doored HR-X (pictured). HR-X2 (also pictured) followed in 1993 and development continued through various models with the RX-8 Hydrogen RE unveiled in 2003.