Mazda5 HRE hybrid hydrogen/gas/electric minivan

The only hybrid minivan currently in production is the Toyata Estima Hybrid (Japan only). Well, Winding Road magazine reports that the Mazda5 HRE should be added to the list.

The Mazda5 is a small minivan with 2/2/2 seating. The conventional model is available in the U.S. but it seems the hybrid HRE will be for Japan only.

The HRE’s rotary combustion engine can run on gasoline or hydrogen, but there is no hydrogen fuel cell. The electric half of the hybrid drive train seems to be fairly standard.

• HRE (or Hybrid RE) stands for hybrid rotary engine.
• In Japan the Mazda5 model is called the Premacy.