2014 Mazda6 with SKYACTIV-G and i-ELOOP Set For Moscow Release
 

Late August for the full reveal of a specific variant of the all-new European spec 6’s.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - July 25, 2012

2014 Mazda 6 up front and personal.

Mazda’s all-new 2014 6 will make its global debut during press preview days at next month’s Moscow International Automobile Show. Following on the heels of the highly recommended Mazda CX-5, the Mazda6 will not only incorporate Mazda’s entire battery of SKYACTIV technologies but will add a regenerative braking and Start/Stop system the likes the world has never seen before.

'i-ELOOP'

Mazda's 'i-ELOOP' regenerative braking system diagrammed in the upcoming all-new 6.

Mazda has previously provided us with information on its next generation regenerative braking system that uses a super capacitor in lieu of a battery for quick energy storage and release. Mazda claims that in real-world driving conditions with frequent acceleration and braking, 'i-ELOOP' improves fuel economy by as much as 10 percent. While there is always an advantage to using regenerative braking rather than throwing it away any time you have to step on the brake, 10% is a rather large step.

Compared to batteries, capacitors can be charged and discharged rapidly and are resistant to deterioration over hundreds of thousands and even millions of cycles. 'i-ELOOP' efficiently converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into electricity as it decelerates, and uses the electricity to power the climate control fans, audio system and the rest of the 12V ancillary systems requirements.

Mazda developed its regenerative braking system to handle a large influx of current and slowly give it back. And they somehow did it without the use of a dedicated electric motor but instead of a reversing alternator which sounds to me like a dedicated motor generator by a different name?

'i-ELOOP' features a new 12-25V variable voltage alternator, a low-resistance electric double layer capacitor and a DC/DC converter. 'i-ELOOP' starts to recover kinetic energy the moment the driver lifts off the accelerator pedal and the vehicle begins to decelerate. The variable voltage alternator generates electricity at up to 25V for maximum efficiency before sending it to the Electric Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC) for storage. The capacitor, which has been specially developed for use in a vehicle, can be fully charged in seconds. The DC/DC converter steps down the electricity from 25V to 12V before it is distributed directly to the vehicle's electrical components. The system also charges the vehicle battery as necessary. 'i-ELOOP' operates whenever the vehicle decelerates, reducing the need for the engine to burn extra fuel to generate electricity.

The name 'i-ELOOP' is an adaptation of "Intelligent Energy Loop" and represents Mazda's intention to efficiently cycle energy in an intelligent way.

'i-ELOOP' works in conjunction with Mazda's unique 'i-stop' start/stop technology to extend the period that the engine can be shut off.

Moscow

On display in Moscow will be a Russian-specification sedan featuring a SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine mated to a SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle also will feature the aforementioned “i-ELOOP,” the world’s first capacitor-based regenerative braking system.

Re: 2014 Mazda6 with SKYACTIV-G and i-ELOOP Set For Moscow Release
 

I wonder if that "variable voltage alternator" will be a permanent-magnet alternator or field coil alternator? The PM one would be more efficient but harder to regulate the output.

Also, why do we have to wait till 2014 for this model?

Can we finally stop putting small vowels in front of every fancy tech name yet? That annoying fad was completely played out 5 years ago.

Re: 2014 Mazda6 with SKYACTIV-G and i-ELOOP Set For Moscow Release
 

Speculation: "variable voltage alternator" could be permanentent magnet augumented with re-enforcing DC field coils.

I hope that this system does NOT go immediately into regenerative braking mode when throttle is released. There should be a "dead band" on some sort (for glide?).

Re: 2014 Mazda6 with SKYACTIV-G and i-ELOOP Set For Moscow Release
 

The iStop alternator for the i-Eloop :) system does work as a motor, to adjust the position of the pistons for the next starting event... probably a PM motor with a relay in the windings.

Have supercaps come down in price?.. AGM batteries are not that cheap either.

Re: 2014 Mazda6 with SKYACTIV-G and i-ELOOP Set For Moscow Release
 

How long until Apple sues Mazda for i-this and i-that? I am an apple fan-boy by the way. :D

Re: 2014 Mazda6 with SKYACTIV-G and i-ELOOP Set For Moscow Release
 

You mean like how Apple patented a rectangle with rounded corners? (obviously pro-android source, but apple actually used that patent in a lawsuit)