This Toyota Prius Can Cut Emissions By Up To 90% Thanks To A Clever Trick

The Prius PHEV flex fuel prototype offers a new approach to vehicle decarbonization.
It pairs plug-in hybrid technology with an engine that can run on ethanol and gasoline.
This setup can cut CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent when charged and using ethanol.

A new chapter for the Prius is taking shape in Brazil, where Toyota has introduced a prototype that blends plug-in hybrid technology with a flex-fuel engine capable of running on both gasoline and ethanol. According to the company, this pairing can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent when the battery is fully charged and the engine runs on ethanol.

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The brand’s Brazilian lineup already offers flex-fuel hybrid versions of the locally built Corolla sedan and Corolla Cross SUV. This marks the first time Toyota has applied the same approach to a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The company sees biofuels like ethanol as a practical, near-term option for reducing emissions not only in Brazil, but also in other markets where ethanol is readily available.

Same Looks, New Heart

Visually, the prototype is nearly identical to a standard Prius PHEV, with only a few distinctive decals along the sides to hint at its tri-energy setup of gasoline, ethanol, and electricity.

Toyota has not released specific technical details, though the modifications to enable ethanol use are likely minimal. The plug-in hybrid setup combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric drive motor and a lithium-ion battery, producing a combined 220 hp (164 kW / 223 PS) when running on gasoline.

This Toyota Prius Can Cut Emissions By Up To 90% Thanks To A Clever Trick

The Prius PHEV flex-fuel concept is on display at the Fenasucro & Agrocana trade show in Sertãozinho, Brazil, sharing the stage with flex-fuel versions of the Hilux, Fortuner (SW4), and Corolla Cross. This follows Toyota’s recent commitment of R$ 11.5 billion (US$2.1 billion) in investment for Brazil by 2030, aimed at expanding local production and developing new mobility solutions.

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As part of that plan, the company will produce two flex-fuel hybrid models in Brazil. One will be the Yaris Cross subcompact SUV, set for a local launch in October 2025. This version will be based on the Indonesian-spec model, which differs from the similarly named SUV sold in Europe and Japan.

Whether this plug-in hybrid flex-fuel system will move beyond the prototype stage remains to be seen. It could eventually be offered in the current Prius PHEV or find its way into future models such as the next-generation RAV4 PHEV, which has yet to make its debut in Brazil.