Mazda Rotary Engine to Boost Range of Self-Driving Toyota Delivery Vehicles

The fleet of autonomous electric delivery vehicles Toyota Motor Corp. is planning will include a small rotary engine supplied by partner Mazda Motor Corp. to help extend their driving range, Bloomberg News reports.

A rotary engine’s lightweight, compact design, fuel efficiency, and minimal noise and vibration make it a good fit for such an application, Mazda U.S. president Masahiro Moro, tells Bloomberg. A range extender recharges an EV’s battery on the fly but does not directly power the wheels.

Last autumn Mazda announced plans to introduce its own mass-market EV in 2019 that would be equipped with a range-extending electrical generator driven by a small rotary engine. Rumors also continue to persist about a new rotary-powered sports car. Mazda’s last such model, the RX-8, was discontinued in 2012.

​​​Toyota showed its oddly shaped e-Palette concepts (pictured) earlier this month at the CES electronics show in Las Vegas. The carmaker aims to launch the self-driving EVs early next decade.

The flexible e-Palette platform can accommodate three sizes: a large bus or delivery van, a midsize shuttle and a tiny vehicle that can operate on sidewalks. In addition to Mazda, Toyota is partnering with Amazon, DiDi, Pizza Hut and Uber on the program.