The BRAKE Report
  • Home
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Vehicle
    • Motorcycle/ATV
    • Motorsports
    • Rail
    • Other
  • Interviews
    • Coffee Brake
    • Leadership Spotlight
  • Technical Articles
  • Test Drives
  • Brake Careers
  • Sponsors
  • Subscribe
Monday, April 12
  • About
  • Contact
  • Sponsorship Guide
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
The BRAKE Report
  • Home
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Vehicle
    • Motorcycle/ATV
    • Motorsports
    • Rail
    • Other
  • Interviews
    • Coffee Brake
    • Leadership Spotlight
  • Technical Articles
  • Test Drives
  • Brake Careers
  • Sponsors
  • Subscribe
The BRAKE Report
Home » Automotive » Mazda MX-5 Miata Adds Regenerative Braking
Automotive

Mazda MX-5 Miata Adds Regenerative Braking

Mike GeylinBy Mike GeylinJanuary 10, 2020No Comments2 Mins Read
Copmonents of the Mazda i-ELOOP system now standard on European MX-5s
Copmonents of the Mazda i-ELOOP system now standard on European MX-5s
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print

Source: Mazda

IRVINE, Calif. – Mazda has added its i-ELOOP brake-energy regeneration system, which converts kinetic energy into electricity, to all European MX-5 Miata models.

The process occurs as the sports car decelerates, turning energy which normally would be lost as heat into electricity which is stored in a capacitor until needed to power the car’s electrical systems.

The i-ELOOP system results in reduced work by the engine-driven alternator to run the MX-5’s electrical components, which translates into better fuel efficiency – Mazda claims about five percent better.

i-ELOOP performs three functions; ‘regeneration,’ ‘storage’ and ‘use.’

According to Mazda, a major focus of the development was how to generate and store electricity as efficiently as possible because the opportunity to do this, the period when a car is braking or decelerating, is by nature very short. In order to develop a system which efficiently recaptures kinetic energy, generates electricity, quickly stores that electricity, Mazda has utilized variable voltage alternator and low-resistance, high-capacity electric double layer capacitor (EDLC).

Conventional alternator charges at around 12 volts (V), however i-ELOOP’s variable voltage alternator can vary its output voltage from 12 V to 25V in response to the voltage level of the capacitor and making it possible to continually supply electricity to the capacitor.

Unlike a battery that works via chemical reaction, capacitors store energy as electricity and for this reason it can charge and discharge large amounts of electricity very quickly. It also exhibits very little deterioration of the electrodes even after prolonged use.

Using capacitors as electricity storage devices in brake energy regeneration systems not only improves fuel economy, it is also expected to prolong the life span of the vehicles lead-acid battery. Furthermore, the capacitor used with i-ELOOP requires no heavy or precious metals, and its main component is activated charcoal making it very environmentally friendly.

Mike Geylin
Mike Geylin
  • LinkedIn

Mike Geylin is the Senior Editor for The BRAKE Report. Geylin has been in automotive communications for five decades working in all aspects of the industry from OEM to supplier to motorsports as well as reporting for both newspapers and magazines on the industry.

Related Posts

Denso's new Advanced Drive ADAS will be featured on the new Lexus LS and Toyota Mirai

Advanced Drive from DENSO for New Lexus, Toyota

April 12, 2021
BBB Industries was recently named a 2021 Supplier of the Year by APA

APA Names BBB a 2021 Supplier of the Year

April 9, 2021
Andy Mayfield named chief commercial officer by IBI

IBI Names Andy Mayfield Chief Commercial Officer

April 9, 2021
Industry Partners
Official Media Partner of
About

The BRAKE Report is an online media platform dedicated to the automotive and commercial vehicle brake segments. Our mission is to provide the global brake community with the latest coverage of news & insights from around the industry.

Latest News
Utility Makes ConMet Preset Plus® Standard on all its trailers

Utility Makes ConMet Preset Plus® Standard

April 12, 2021
Denso's new Advanced Drive ADAS will be featured on the new Lexus LS and Toyota Mirai

Advanced Drive from DENSO for New Lexus, Toyota

April 12, 2021
Translate:

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.