Toyota and HIF launch hybrids and e‑fuels pilot in Patagonia
Partnership with MITTA enables low‑impact travel across 30,000 km using hybrid vehicles powered by synthetic fuel from HIF’s Haru Oni plant.
Toyota, HIF Global and MITTA have launched “Ruta Cero,” a pilot initiative in Chilean Patagonia that combines the manufacturer’s hybrid vehicles with synthetic e‑fuel produced using Magallanes wind energy at HIF’s Haru Oni facility. The initiative aims to show how hybrid technology paired with carbon‑neutral fuels can deliver cleaner mobility in remote regions where charging infrastructure remains limited.
As part of the collaboration, MITTA will provide Toyota hybrid vehicles to tourists during the summer season, fueled exclusively with e‑fuel supplied by HIF. The approach allows drivers to rely on electric‑motor assistance backed by low‑carbon synthetic gasoline, reducing emissions without requiring changes in driving habits or additional charging infrastructure.
According to the companies, the hybrid–e‑fuel pairing offers a “realistic and scalable” pathway toward carbon neutrality in areas where full electrification faces operational constraints.
MITTA emphasized customer ease, as tourists can explore Patagonia “without requiring infrastructure changes or new behaviors.” HIF Latam added that its synthetic gasoline, made from green hydrogen, works in existing engines and enables travelers to “travel through Patagonia with minimal environmental impact.”
The programme will supply 2,500 litres of e‑fuel to MITTA customers from Transpetrol’s Route 9 station and offer visits to the Haru Oni plant. The partners say the project underscores a multi‑path approach to decarbonization, leveraging Chile’s clean‑energy resources to cut transport emissions in hard‑to‑serve geographies.
