Mazda plans 'petrol engine more efficient than electric'

Mazda MX-5

Mazda is planning a petrol engine which it claims will be as clean as an electric motor car, writes Brian Byrne.

The Skyactiv-3 engine target is to have a thermal efficiency of 56pc, which would represent an improvement by more than a quarter over the thermal efficiency performance of its current petrol engines.

The claim that it would be cleaner than electric cars is based on the fact that the bulk of electricity is still produced with fossil fuels, and the Mazda engine would come out better in 'well to wheels' emissions calculations.

On the other side of the world, the Mercedes-Benz F1-inspired engine in the Project One supercar is expected to have a thermal efficiency rating of 41pc, making the Mazda projection a very ambitious undertaking in internal combustion engine terms.

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