Toyota Has Radical Plan For Next Prius

TheToyota Prius是当兵on for the 2022 model year with minor updates including a newsinister-looking Nightshade Edition. Having been on the market since 2015, the current Prius is starting to show its age, leaving us wondering when the next-generation model will arrive, but it could be coming sooner than expected. According to a new report by Japan'sBest Car Web, the all-new Prius will launch in Japan next December. Allegedly, the next-generation Prius will be offered with a hydrogen-powered combustion engine as well as a traditional hybrid powertrain.

Toyota is no stranger to hydrogen-powered cars. Along with the Hyundai Nexo, the Toyota Mirai is the only mass-produced hydrogen car currently on sale.

The Mirai recently traveled 623 miles on a single tanksetting a new world record. Unfortunately, its sales leave a lot to be desired due to its high asking price. Whereas the Mirai is powered by hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen will be used to power the plug-in hybrid system in the new Prius instead of gasoline. Toyota has already showcased this setup in ahydrogen-powered Corolla race carrevealed a few months ago that will also enter production.

Apart from minute amounts of burned engine oil, this setup produces almost zero CO2 emissions. Applying it to a popular model like the Prius should help Toyota achieve its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.