Japanese automaker Mazda has delivered one of its dual-fuel RX-8 Hydrogen Renesis automobiles to the Yamaguchi Prefecture Government. The RX-8 Hydrogen RE is under a lease agreement with the government.
This is big news for Mazda since they have had a difficult time leasing the RX-8 Hydrogen RE to government and business leaders simply because the automobile is a sports model and not as “conservative” as government and business would like for their purposes. Nonetheless, Mazda is intending to lease 10 hydrogen vehicles to business and governmental bodies by the end of 2006.
The Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE is a dual-fuel gasoline / hydrogen vehicle, which can alternative between fuel sources with the flip of a switch. In addition, the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE also contains a rotary engine, which does not have the same issues with backfiring when hydrogen gas is introduced as is typical with other internal combustion engines.