The Mazda MX-5 Thread

Mazda might be planning a fully-electrified MX-5

And it has a novel layout for the batteries in order to maintain the Miata's sacred weight distribution

Mazda’s creatively titled, newly published ‘Electric Vehicle’ patent looks like the makings of an electron-powered MX-5, where the batteries are stored in "the tunnel portion of the formed floor".
The application – complete with some extremely useful illustrations (above) – details how such a sporty EV would use this novel approach, coupled with cells under the rear seats and passenger side, to keep things (specifically weight) even-stevens when the driver is on a solo trip.

The application states: “It is important to reduce the yaw moment of inertia of the vehicle when considering the kinetic performance of the automobile, so that will be a key issue.” In layman’s terms, Mazda wants a potential electric MX-5 to respond as memorably as an ICE-powered one, and since EVs are widely regarded as creatures of mass, where you put the battery weight to get the sharpest reduction in yaw inertia (i.e. a resistance to a change in direction) matters.

The Mazda MX-30 and another model planned for 2027 are already fully electric, but the Japanese carmaker has been reluctant to get electron-heavy with the its best-selling roadster, because lumbering elephants do not nimble mices make. Basically, an MX-5 won’t move enjoyably with heavy batteries.

 
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