These days, the term "hybrid" seems to encompass almost any vehicle that isn't purely electric. But when did automotive manufacturers start producing these vehicles? It all began in 1997 for Mazda. With the RX-E Renesis, the Japanese carmaker introduced their first truly hybrid model to the world. This car was a revelation, and it showed that Mazda was here to stay when it came to designing and producing fuel-efficient vehicles. It may not have seen the level of success among consumers that others do, but it was still an essential first step.
Mazda's first electric vehicle was the Demio EV, released in Japan in 1998. While the Demio EV enjoyed limited success and has been out of production since 2002, Mazda continues to produce electric vehicles today.
The Demio EV was based on the third generation Demio, which debuted in 1997. The vehicle itself closely resembled the gasoline-powered Demio, with only a few changes made to distinguish it from its conventional counterpart. For example, the EV version of the car had a different grill without an air intake.
Mazda produced under 10,000 of these vehicles between 1998 and 2002. The company sold them exclusively in Japan and leased them to select companies and municipalities. While Mazda has not produced any commercial EVs since 2002, the company has continued to grow hybrid vehicles that combine gasoline power with electric power.
The first Mazda electric vehicle was developed on a production model of the Eunos Presso in 1994. Although this car never made it to market, Mazda continued its foray into electric vehicles with the AZ-EV, introduced at the 1996 Tokyo Motor Show.
Mazda produced five AZ-EVs, three of which were sold to Japanese officials and two used for internal testing. This vehicle was powered by a lead-acid battery and had an operating range of 77 miles before charging was required.
The AZ-Ev was followed by the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid, which ran on a hydrogen fuel cell and lithium-ion batteries. In 2008, Mazda unveiled its Demio EV, also known as the Mazda2 EV, outside Japan. This model had a driving range of 100 miles before needing more electricity.
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As you can see from the chart above, Mazda has been working on electric vehicles for quite a while. In addition to their early development of electric cars (before the battery technology was mature enough for the market), they have been producing and refining their battery cells over time to mass-produce electric vehicles. Their efforts are now bearing fruit, with their production of the 2016 Mazda Miata-based MX-5 Miata RF, which will go on sale sometime this year. Its impressive power and range capabilities appear to be a promising vehicle used as an everyday electric driver. Visit our dealership for more information and insights about Mazda.
