Toyota shows 'an engine reborn' with green fuel despite global push for battery electric cars
CTV
Toyota has announced it will offer lean compact engines that also run on so-called green fuels like hydrogen and bioethanol, or get paired with zero-emissions electric motors in hybrids.
"An engine reborn."
That's how Japanese automaker Toyota introduced plans to cast a futuristic spin on the traditional internal combustion engine.
During a three-hour presentation at a Tokyo hall Tuesday, the car manufacturer giant announced it would offer lean compact engines that also run on so-called green fuels like hydrogen and bioethanol, or get paired with zero-emissions electric motors in hybrids.
This comes as many competitors in the auto industry are pushing for fully electric vehicles. China is revving its push for Battery Electric Vehicles, and its own BYD is threatening to outshine Tesla in that push.
Toyota's chief executive Koji Sato said the "engine is optimized for the electrification era" with hopes of helping push the world into "carbon neutrality."
Toyota already has a well-known hybrid car -- the Prius -- with a gas engine and an electric motor. It switches between the two to deliver a cleaner drive.
In future hybrids, the electric motor is set to become the main driving power, and the new engine will be designed to take a lesser role and help it along, according to Toyota.
