Following hybrids powered by gasoline, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas, Stellantis aims to demonstrate that ethanol is also a viable solution
Hybrids have a rich history dating back to 1901 with Ferdinand Porsche’s Loehner-Porsche “Mixte.” However, hybrid technology didn’t gain momentum until the 1990s, driven by the release of the original Prius. Most hybrids use gasoline engines, though some, like those from Mercedes, run on diesel. Peugeot was the first to launch a mass-produced diesel hybrid in 2012, and after Kia’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) hybrid, Fiat is now introducing an ethanol hybrid in Brazil.
Stellantis refers to it as “bio-hybrid” technology, featuring a turbocharged 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine that runs on both gasoline and ethanol, paired with an electric motor. This combustion engine delivers 130 horsepower, which, while modest, allows Fiat to claim that the Fastback and Pulse models are the most powerful in their class. These two SUVs, equipped with the T200 Hybrid powertrain, generate 148 pound-feet of torque.
Power is directed to the front axle through a CVT that simulates seven gears. Fiat equips both the Fastback and Pulse with two 12V batteries: a 68Ah lead-acid battery in the engine compartment and an 11Ah lithium-ion battery positioned beneath the driver’s seat. These batteries support a four-horsepower electric motor, which replaces traditional alternator and starter components.
The system also includes a regenerative mode that can recapture up to 25% of the energy typically lost during deceleration, using it to recharge both batteries. According to Fiat, fuel consumption is reduced by 11.5% in the Fastback and 10.7% in the Pulse compared to the non-electrified version of the ethanol-compatible engine.
