- The Prius PHEV flex gas prototype gives a brand new method to car decarbonization.
- It pairs plug-in hybrid know-how with an engine that may run on ethanol and gasoline.
- This setup can minimize CO2 emissions by as much as 90 p.c when charged and utilizing ethanol.
A brand new chapter for the Prius is taking form in Brazil, the place Toyota has launched a prototype that blends plug-in hybrid know-how with a flex-fuel engine able to working on each gasoline and ethanol. Based on the corporate, this pairing can cut back CO2 emissions by as much as 90 p.c when the battery is absolutely charged and the engine runs on ethanol.
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The model’s Brazilian lineup already gives flex-fuel hybrid variations of the domestically constructed Corolla sedan and Corolla Cross SUV. This marks the primary time Toyota has utilized the identical method to a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The corporate sees biofuels like ethanol as a sensible, near-term choice for decreasing emissions not solely in Brazil, but additionally in different markets the place ethanol is available.
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Visually, the prototype is almost an identical to a normal Prius PHEV, with just a few distinctive decals alongside the perimeters to trace at its tri-energy setup of gasoline, ethanol, and electrical energy.
Toyota has not launched particular technical particulars, although the modifications to allow ethanol use are doubtless minimal. The plug-in hybrid setup combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electrical drive motor and a lithium-ion battery, producing a mixed 220 hp (164 kW / 223 PS) when working on gasoline.
The Prius PHEV flex-fuel idea is on show on the Fenasucro & Agrocana commerce present in Sertãozinho, Brazil, sharing the stage with flex-fuel variations of the Hilux, Fortuner (SW4), and Corolla Cross. This follows Toyota’s latest dedication of R$ 11.5 billion (US$2.1 billion) in funding for Brazil by 2030, aimed toward increasing native manufacturing and creating new mobility options.
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As a part of that plan, the corporate will produce two flex-fuel hybrid fashions in Brazil. One would be the Yaris Cross subcompact SUV, set for an area launch in October 2025. This model shall be based mostly on the Indonesian-spec mannequin, which differs from the equally named SUV offered in Europe and Japan.
Whether or not this plug-in hybrid flex-fuel system will transfer past the prototype stage stays to be seen. It may finally be supplied within the present Prius PHEV or discover its method into future fashions such because the next-generation RAV4 PHEV, which has but to make its debut in Brazil.
