Toyota & Chevron's New Low-Carbon Fuel Blend

Toyota and Chevron have joined forces to develop a renewable gasoline blend that promises to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

This innovative fuel blend, made using soybean oil, can be used in nearly any vehicle on the road today, functioning just like traditional gasoline without requiring any modifications to the engine. | Photos: Chevron

This innovative fuel blend, made using soybean oil, can be used in nearly any vehicle on the road today, functioning just like traditional gasoline without requiring any modifications to the engine.

The collaboration recently took a significant step forward at Toyota Logistics Services at the Port of Portland. Chevron delivered 4,000 gallons of this renewable gasoline blend, which was stored in an existing fuel tank.

The blend was then used for a “first fill” on April 11, 2024, marking the initial fueling of a shipment of new vehicles destined for dealerships.

Compared to conventional gasoline, this new blend could potentially cut a vehicle’s lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions by more than 40%. Creating a renewable gasoline blend that combines performance with sustainability is both an art and a science.

According to Izadyar Dalvand, Engine Laboratory Operations Supervisor at the Chevron Richmond Engine Laboratory, “It’s great to be involved in creating a totally new renewable gasoline blend, and to see it used in vehicles.”

Dalvand’s team played a crucial role in developing a product that contains more than 50% renewable content, successfully delivering performance while lowering carbon intensity.

This effort is part of a broader strategy to decarbonize the transportation sector, an area responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“Multiple solutions are needed to help lower the carbon intensity of the transportation sector,” noted Andy Walz, President of Chevron Americas Products. He emphasized the importance of supportive policies to scale the production of renewable fuels and make them accessible to consumers.

The blend's journey towards wider adoption was highlighted by a 1,000-mile road trip in July 2023, during which it powered three Toyota vehicles—a Camry, a RAV4, and a Tundra—through various weather and terrain conditions across the southeastern United States.

This successful demonstration showed the renewable gasoline blend’s capability to

perform under real-world driving conditions.

The use of soybean oil, a byproduct of the soybean crushing process for animal feed, exemplifies how existing agricultural processes can contribute to cleaner fuel production.

“We use the soybean oil byproduct in our refineries today, blend it with our petroleum products, and achieve a lower carbon intensity gasoline,” explained Nuray Elci, Vice President of Renewables at Chevron.

This innovative renewable gasoline blend not only works seamlessly with existing infrastructure and vehicles but also offers a practical solution for reducing carbon emissions.

As Toyota and Chevron continue to push the envelope in sustainable fuel development, the vision of a lower-carbon future on the roads is becoming a reality.