Mazda SkyActiv: Not your average combustion engine

Friday, 6 September 2013 04:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By David Ebert With Mazda’s new SkyActiv engines, the Japanese car giant claims that incredible driving and fuel economy in a standard combustion

engine is no longer a dream. That claim rings true considering the number of positive reviews and awards the SkyActiv engine range has received. Mazda’s SkyActiv technology works on a simple principle: to make an engine that saves every bit of the estimated 70-80% of energy existing in each litre of fuel that is wasted in conventional engines even before reaching the wheels as motive force. How does it achieve this? It’s actually a very simple technique that somehow seems a much better alternative in the long run than hybrid engines for more reasons than one. What Mazda did was to focus on making the combustion process more efficient by pursuing ideal combustion and developing engines with the world’s best compression ratios that translates into improved thermal efficiency. Hence by increasing compression ratios up to an industry first of 14.0:1, it achieves significantly improved fuel economy, power and most importantly, emissions. This, tied up with an intelligent transmission, braking system and lighter and stronger bodies made with high-tensile steel, it adds up to quite a package. Generating brilliant power output and promising a quite impressive 12 kilometres per litre in fuel economy in a dual city/outstation running, the Mazda SkyActiv petrol engines look to outclass not only similar competitive models in their respective ranges but, with there being not much of a price difference between super diesel and petrol in Sri Lanka, may actually give diesel cars a bit of a run for their money. The other great feature of a new Mazda SkyActiv enabled vehicle is the iELOOP Brake Energy Regeneration System that convert a vehicle’s kinetic energy into electricity as the car decelerates and then stores it for later use in a capacitor. The stored energy is then used to power the headlights, climate control, audio system or any other electrical equipment. This reduces the need for the engine to burn extra fuel in order to generate electricity and thereby improves fuel economy. I said earlier that I believe that SkyActiv is easily the best alternative to a hybrid because of many reasons. However the next fact that I am about to reveal is, I feel, the most important to me in the long run, in that the capacitor does not have a shelf life like the batteries on a Hybrid vehicle. This eliminates one of the more pressing concerns with regard to Hybrid vehicle batteries; safe disposal. The safe disposal of Hybrid batteries is still an issue that needs to be addressed and a solution for found. The capacitor according to informed sources will apparently “last as long as the entire car does”. Sri Lanka still has a long way to go with regard to improving vehicle emissions and according to sources at Sri Lanka’s Mazda dealership Colonial Motors (Ceylon) Ltd., which markets both the Mazda 6 and CS5 with the new SkyActiv technology, 100 vehicles have already been sold and the future looks bright for motorists looking for a car that addresses their every concern. Combined with a dealership that is well equipped to handle all servicing needs for the cars in a state-of-the-art workshop and a team of technicians trained specifically to handle SkyActiv engines; with its improved fuel economy, lower emissions and extra power the Mazda SkyActiv range offers, it definitely looks like the one to beat in its category.