Crossing the Sahara Desert in a Prius PHV

Team ACP was formed in 1979 by a group of Japanese driving enthusiasts who wanted to prepare themselves for the Dakar Rally. They got hooked after their foray and participated in subsequent rallies, driving from Paris to Dakar annually for the next 12 years. From their experiences driving through the desert, the team members developed an appreciation of different cultures, as well as increased concern for the environmental issues that the world faces.

Crossing the Sahara Desert in a Prius PHV

After the Prius was launched in 1997, Team ACP was presented with the opportunity to drive the Prius on expeditions in 5 different continents from North America to Africa over a 10-year period. This allowed them to test the feasibility of driving hybrid electrified vehicles in different parts of the world under varying conditions. At the same time, the team leveraged the publicity from their expeditions to cast a light on efforts made in different regions toward green energy and other sustainability projects.

This time, Team ACP retraced the Paris-Dakar route that they first took almost 40 years ago, and set off from Paris for Dakar in March 2018. All they drove on their expedition across the vast Sahara Desert were a Prius PHV (plug-in hybrid vehicle) as the main vehicle and a Land Cruiser for support.

We are pleased to share their 7,000-kilometer adventure on this page.

Crossing the Sahara Desert in a Prius PHV

The Prius PHV departs for the 7,000 km adventure

And they're off! Team ACP traverses snow-covered France on their 7,000 km trek to Dakar in a Prius PHV. Be sure to follow along as they drive to their next stop, Morocco!

  • The Prius PHV departs for the 7,000 km adventure
  • The Prius PHV departs for the 7,000 km adventure
The Prius PHV departs for the 7,000 km adventure

The Prius PHV reaches the Tarfaya Wind Farm in southwestern Morocco

Hello, Morocco! The Tarfaya Wind Farm is the largest wind farm in Africa with 131 wind turbines in operation. Perhaps fewer than the many goats we saw along the way. Onward for Dakar!

  • The Prius PHV reaches the Tarfaya Wind Farm in southwestern Morocco
  • The Prius PHV reaches the Tarfaya Wind Farm in southwestern Morocco

The Prius PHV in the electricity-less desert

Did you know that the Prius PHV can act as a power source? With an output of 100V/1,500W, this is more than enough to run a cooking pot. Convenient for tea time and supper in the middle of the desert!

  • The Prius PHV in the electricity-less desert
  • The Prius PHV in the electricity-less desert

The Prius PHV is in the thick of it

Driving in the desert is no easy task. As Team ACP continues on the trek through Western Sahara and Mauritania, they are stymied by deep sands, heavy winds, and even care-free camels!

The Prius PHV is in the thick of it
The Prius PHV is in the thick of it
The Prius PHV is in the thick of it

The Prius PHV rests under the baobab tree

One does not have to be a little prince to marvel at the sight of the mighty baobab tree. The Prius PHV is part of Toyota's efforts to promote sustainability of the planet in the long run. Team ACP is getting closer to Dakar.

The Prius PHV rests under the baobab tree

All the way from Paris, the Prius PHV finally reaches its goal Dakar

All the way from Paris, the Prius PHV finally reaches its goal Dakar

They made it! Team ACP has reached Dakar, completing their 7,000 km trek from Paris in a Prius PHV. Before arriving in Dakar, the team dropped by pink Lake Retba famous for its salt harvesting. This trek may be over, but the journey towards an ever-better environment continues.

All the way from Paris, the Prius PHV finally reaches its goal Dakar
  • All the way from Paris, the Prius PHV finally reaches its goal Dakar
  • All the way from Paris, the Prius PHV finally reaches its goal Dakar
All the way from Paris, the Prius PHV finally reaches its goal Dakar
For the full expedition report from Team ACP's trip across the Sahara Desert, please click on the following link
https://team-acp.com/ (in Japanese only)

Photo Gallery

France, Spain, and Gibraltar
  • France, Spain, and Gibraltar
  • France, Spain, and Gibraltar
  • France, Spain, and Gibraltar
  • France, Spain, and Gibraltar
Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
Senegal
  • Senegal
  • Senegal
  • Senegal

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France, Spain, and Gibraltar

  • France, Spain, and Gibraltar
    France, Spain, and Gibraltar
  • France, Spain, and Gibraltar
    France, Spain, and Gibraltar
  • France, Spain, and Gibraltar
    France, Spain, and Gibraltar
  • France, Spain, and Gibraltar
    France, Spain, and Gibraltar

Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)

  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
  • Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)
    Morocco (Marrakesh, Atlas Mountains, and Erg Chebbi)

The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)

  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
    The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
    The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
    The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
    The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
    The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
    The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
  • The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)
    The Sahara (Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania)

Senegal

  • Senegal
    Senegal
  • Senegal
    Senegal
  • Senegal
    Senegal

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