Hybrid vehicles — which run on a combination of electricity and gasoline — emit 50 to 80 percent less pollution, according to a study by the Polytechnic Institute of the University of Sao Paulo. The options of electricity and gasoline, ethanol or diesel allow the engine “to function in optimal conditions” and increase the distance traveled on the same amount of fuel by 50 percent, explained Marcelo Massarani, master thesis adviser for engineer Juliana Queiroz and her research on the issue.

Hybrid engines are seen as essential for curbing emissions that contribute to climate change, and can generate credits for the international carbon market and improve quality of life.

So far, Brazil manufactures only hybrid buses, not the lighter individual vehicles that are conquering markets in the wealthy nations, although there are excellent conditions for creating production incentives by reducing taxes that are five times higher than in the United States, said Massarani.