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GasBuddy News Article

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Mazda to use regen brakes to boost fuel economy 5 to 10 percent

Autoweek Magazine -- Mazda is adding a fuel-saving technology that harnesses wasted brake energy in the redesigned Mazda6 sedan due early next year.

The approach uses regenerative braking to convert kinetic energy into electricity that is stored in a capacitor. The car later taps that capacitor to power the fuel pump, lights, audio, air conditioning and transmission and engine control systems.

Traditionally, power for those functions is drawn from the engine.

But Mazda's innovation, called i-Eloop, relieves the engine of those duties, allowing it to channel its output more efficiently.

The technology will boost fuel economy "by 5 percent to 10 percent," Seita Kanai, executive vice president in charge of r&d, said during a press event in Japan.

The regenerative braking capacitors will debut in the next-gen


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Submitted Jul 11, 2012 By: NHLiveFree
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: Mazda to use regen brakes to boost fuel economy 5 to 10 percent Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Jul 15, 2012 6:56:40 AM

hope it works in large scale operations. Would be a good thing esp. in this economy.
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carloco75
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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 8:02:11 PM

Good stuff...
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HawaiianGuy
Champion Author Idaho

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 2:56:54 PM

Mazda has always been very innovative, what with being the underdog and all.
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sparky808
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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 12:17:35 PM

Thank you for posting.
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gravityhurts
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 7:54:11 AM

Great idea.
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tomok
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 7:09:20 AM

Instead of waste heat from braking, use that kinetic energy to produce power for the vehicle.
Store the power, in the form of electricity, in batteries or capacitors for later use. Friction braking is still required at slow speeds or when the regen braking fails.
Boost fuel economy 5 to 10 percent? That remains to be seen!
Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost.
The price of fuel at the pump is too high!
12/22/2012!
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remay
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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 5:40:09 AM

Makes sense as long as its reliable...
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jrs4125
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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 5:28:52 AM

Good idea if it works as advertised.
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justmedc
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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 12:28:37 AM

wish i had the money for a new car
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joel27nc
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:23:45 PM

Will that really help?
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carman11
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:14:11 PM

Interesting. the idea of brake energy to save fuel goes to show what can come out of technology when we put our mind to it.
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DrLyon
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:13:55 PM

Go stopping...
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PrinceLH
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:06:39 PM

Good R&D!
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DandyDapple
All-Star Author North Dakota

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:06:10 PM

Cool ...
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rollercoaster
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:05:56 PM

hope it works
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jrschl
Champion Author Louisville

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:05:24 PM

Kudos.
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umitb
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:05:00 PM

ok
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1fulltank
Champion Author Buffalo

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:04:03 PM

Another system destined for recall.
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NorthglennBill
Champion Author Denver

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:04:03 PM

Wow, one more thing to go seriously wrong all in the name of fuel economy.
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unipanini
All-Star Author New York

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:04:02 PM

Awesome
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feistyfella
All-Star Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:03:06 PM

Eloop
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TheeRedRam
Champion Author Hartford

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:02:36 PM

.
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Buffalo Joe
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 11:02:33 PM

Go Mazda!
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DesertRat2011
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:58:55 PM

Great others need to follow!
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flyfast
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:57:02 PM

COST
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min_fuel
Champion Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:56:22 PM

Nice. I thought of this a few years ago and wondered how it could be done. Not that I take credit, just wondered why it could not be done.
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AnObserver
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:56:14 PM

interessting - similar to the KERS system in F1
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MDTDriver
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:55:26 PM

Not new but it works.
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BrucePen
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:55:07 PM

Sounds good.
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mgune9
All-Star Author Dallas

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:52:27 PM

sounds like true inventiveness, but I'll wait to see how practical it proves to be
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Ayeghoti
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:51:08 PM

hmmm
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suzmar
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:48:17 PM

Interesting, but I wouldn't buy one till they had been proven in real life.
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Tracer2008
All-Star Author Alberta

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:45:22 PM

So does this mean these cars will have no alternator?

I'd hate to see what a 3 hour highway drive would allow for power supply?
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mrbee
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:38:38 PM

Interesting.
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big_mac64
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:36:42 PM

I would like to see how reliable these vehicles are mechanically B4 I would consider a purchase.
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eye-spy
Champion Author Quebec

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:32:29 PM

Something else to cost a fortune at the dealers to repair when it "screws up".
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Vette1967
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:30:59 PM

Nice...
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Mowerman08
Champion Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:29:57 PM

Sounds like a very optimistic boost to fuel economy, 1 1/2 to 3 mpg.
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letmathe
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:27:21 PM

interesting!
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a_lu_vasile
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:23:14 PM

ok
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mstearno
Champion Author Dayton

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:22:42 PM

sounds pretty smart
beyong GM's thoughts
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wayoung56
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:20:41 PM

Interesting article...
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unicornIL
Veteran Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:19:38 PM

interesting, anything else that can be recirculated?
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serrog
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:17:28 PM

Interesting
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kzrooster
Champion Author Kalamazoo

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:13:55 PM

great idea
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clermont40miles
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:13:32 PM

Seems technically feasible. Mazda owners, let us know how it works out.

We'll be waiting for your report.

zzz.
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tessnlu
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:12:33 PM

awesome
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hcivic
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:10:05 PM

very good
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MotoDad
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:10:04 PM

every little bit helps. stick it to the oil companies.
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NemoIL
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Message Posted: Jul 11, 2012 10:05:03 PM

A lot of complex mechanics and electronics to gain only 10%.
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