- European market Miatas will be equipped with Mazda’s i-ELOOP technology.
- The system converts kinetic energy into electric when decelerating.
- No word yet if the North American MX-5 will also gain the tech.
As they say, every little bit helps. This is why the Mazda MX-5 will be equipped with the brand’s i-ELOOP energy recovery technology. According to Mazda, the result of freeing up parasitic energy drain from the car’s alternator will result in a roughly 5% improvement in fuel economy. There’s another upside but we worry…
Let’s address the immediate concerns, or at least the perceived concerns, that we all may have in relation to our beloved MX-5 being fitted with brake regeneration: weight penalty and cost. The Mazda MX-5 is a champion of lightweight performance and any development which may negatively affect this is a no-no. From what information we can find, the system along with its integrated capacitor would add up to 10kg to the Miata’s curb weight. So, not too bad…
As for costs, at the moment, we do not know if Mazda will introduce the technology in North America, and if so, how pricing will be affected, if at all.
The other upside is that the parasitic alternator power draw is eliminated which means more horsepower to the wheels!
Mazda long-ago produced a brief that smartly explains how Mazda’s i-ELOOP regenerative braking system works. It’s worth a watch.
