Environmental protection and the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is a core goal for their company, says Mazda. “We are committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 in all areas of operations. To achieve this ambitious goal, Mazda is following a comprehensive strategy called ‘Multi-Solution Approach’, which holds that all available solutions must be used to reach carbon neutrality and to suit all individual mobility needs or regional conditions.”

They say this includes Mazda having all new models fully or partially electrified by 2030 while simultaneously perfecting the internal combustion engine – all in line with the company’s vision to build cars for those who love driving.

According to Mazda, while it is tempting to look at battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as a cure-all technology to achieve sustainability, only a holistic perspective will produce an accurate picture. For example, while BEV’s are locally emission-free – meaning they don’t create any exhaust emissions – a look at the carbon footprint of the battery itself is also needed, as well as the type of electricity powering the cars.

This ‘well-to-wheel’ view of sustainability drives Mazda’s decisions when it comes to powertrain development, market strategies and our future line-up. Customer needs, local driving conditions and different driving scenarios all play a role too when it comes to providing the most sustainable solution – and these parameters are seldom the same the world over, they say.

Mazda, Saudi Aramco and AIST launch research project
From a ‘Well-to-Wheel’ to a ‘Tank-to-Wheel’ Assessment

All this leads Mazda to adopt a Multi-Solution Approach. While not as snappy as an all-out pledge to only build BEVs, Mazda feels it does justice to the conditions (and emissions) that we find in the world today.

Mazda says it is committed to improving and providing three engine types: petrol, diesel and fully electric. For our internal combustion engines (ICEs) Mazda is working to create continuously more efficient engines with our Skyactiv Technology – first introduced in 2012. At the same time, Mazda is adding various degrees of electrification that fits the needs and driving scenarios of each car.

By 2030, every new model in the Mazda line-up will feature different kinds and degrees of electrification, with 75 percent of the cars sporting electrified ICEs and BEVs making up the other 25 percent.

Additionally, Mazda is pursing the development of alternative fuels, such as e-fuels. They say that since it is not the engine, but the fuel the engine burns that stores and releases carbon, this would allow for internal combustion engines to become completely carbon neutral.

True to Mazda’s claim to provide the right solution for the right driving scenario and market, they have pursued varying degrees of electrification in our line-up. First-up, the Mazda M-Hybrid system combines the Skyactiv engine with a mild-hybrid solution that enhances fuel economy without adding much weight or the need for external charging. The 24-V battery recuperates energy generated while braking, which is then used to power the car’s electrical equipment or to add torque to support the engine.

The Mazda M-Hybrid system will debut on the MX-30 model with cutting edge style and featuring sustainable materials that reduce environmental impact – joining Mazda’s first BEV, the MX-30 Takami EV which was launched in July. DriveLife currently has an MX-30 on a long-term review.

David Hodge, Mazda New Zealand’s Managing Director, says the MX-30 Limited with the M-Hybrid system is a welcome addition to the MX-30 range offering customers a choice of a fully electric model with the right-sized battery for most kiwis, while the M-Hybrid with Skyactiv-G petrol engine is available for those seeking a longer range.

Mazda say their M-Hybrid is a mild-hybrid system unique to Mazda that makes effective use of energy to support both fuel efficiency and driving performance. In addition to recycling energy usually lost during deceleration, the M-Hybrid system in MX-30 Limited helps drivability by substituting engine torque for motor torque taking both driving performance and fuel efficiency to the next level through built-in control that is always predicting energy input and output while driving to ensure the most intelligent use of energy possible when the car is starting, accelerating or coming to a stop resulting in improved fuel economy.

They have announced that as from 1 October, Mazda will be funding five native NZ trees for every new Mazda model sold in conjunction with Trees That Count. Native trees not only sequester CO2 from the atmosphere, but they also provide thriving habitats for native birds, improve water quality in water ways, and provide beautiful places for future generations to explore. Every native tree planted in NZ helps to restore and enhance our environment, for biodiversity, for climate change.

The MX-30 Limited e-Skyactiv G is available from all Mazda dealerships nationwide, with a RRP from $46,790.

The MX-30 Takami EV is available from selected Mazda dealerships, with a RRP from $74,990 which qualifies for the full $8,625 clean car rebate and includes a fast charge AC Wallbox Pulsar Plus charger (valued at $2,000; installation additional).

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How on earth to start this? I've been car/bike/truck crazy since I was a teen. Like John, I had the obligatory Countach poster on the wall. I guess I'm more officially into classic and muscle cars than anything else - I currently have a '65 Sunbeam Tiger that left the factory the same day as I left the hospital as a newborn with my mother. How could I not buy that car? In 2016 my wife and I drove across the USA in a brand-new Dodge Challenger, and then shipped it home. You can read more on www.usa2nz.co.nz. We did this again in 2019 in a 1990 Chev Corvette - you can read about that trip on DriveLife. I'm a driving instructor and an Observer for the Institute of Advanced Motorists - trying to do my bit to make our roads safer.

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